EDITOR'S NOTE: This story originally appeared in the 100th anniversary edition of the Hannibal Courier-Post, on June 30, 1938.

The weight of nearly 100 years hangs heavily on the old Bay Mill, three and a half miles north of Hannibal, and the old structure which is one of the remaining symbols of the early days of the city and Marion County is rapidly becoming a ruin.

Weeds fill the old mill race which has been dry these many years and remains of the great wooden water wheels which supplied power lie scattered at the side of the time-battered building - forlorn relics of the days when farmers came from miles around to have their corn and wheat ground into meal and flour, while they sat by and swapped news and stories.

It is believed that the boy Sam Clemens played around the old mill in those carefree days before he went out into the world to become famous as Mark Twain, writer of stories which have made the world laugh and sometimes cry.

The old structure can be reached by taking the north river road, usually very rough, and turning off at Two Mile Lane; or by following State Route 56 from U. S. Highway 61 near Hannibal-LaGrange college and turning north on the lane.

Preservation Considered

Because it is a relic of early history and is one of the first mills west of the Mississippi river, persons interested in history have urged that it should be partially restored and preserved as a historic relic and the Hannibal and Palmyra chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution at one time considered sponsoring a proposal for the restoration.

Located on land now owned by Mrs. Oney D. Bowen, the present mill is believed to have been built in 1843 and is successor to an earlier one which a history of Marion County says was built on this site in 1828 by Stephen Glascock, a pioneer settler of Marion county. The first mill was was destroyed by fire according to historyThe framework of the old structure which apparently was four or five stories high but now is only four counting the race level and attic, was put together with wooden pins which still are in good state of preservation.

Wood planks on the ground floor now are decayed badly and are treacherous to the step but a flight of steps leading to the next floor is in comparatively good shape.

Lying in a litter of grass and dried cornstalks on the mill race level of the building, there still is part of the iron shaft which connects the remains of the wheel outside. Although they are very rusty, part of the big iron cogwheels which turned the machinery remain on this floor also.

Stone Burrs Remain

Three of the stone burrs used for grinding the corn and wheat still remain in the old mill, one On the mill race level, and two on the ground floor.

The second floor, which is the best preserved in the building, still supports the remains of a circular screen which apparently was used in the milling of flour. The screen is badly rusted but the wooden framework is in fair shape.

Oak uprights which support the upper floors of the aged structure are in good state of preservation and have a solid sound when struck.

Although the rock foundation of the mill has withstood the ravages of time valiantly, the roof over the attic section has gaping holes and the sides of the building have large openings where the once stout boards have fallen away.

Data gathered by workers in the Hannibal office of the Federal Writers project revealed that there were two sets of burrs in the old mill - one for grinding corn into meal and the other for milling flour.

A small shed once stood on the south side of the building next to the road and this housed a threshing machine engine which turned the machinery when water in the mill race ran low.

The old water wheel measured sixteen feet from top to bottom and it turned machinery on every floor. The wheel was of heavy oak parts of which still may be seen half-buried in weeds in the old mill race.

Ceased about 1900

The old mill ceased operations in 1899 or 1900 and the last active owner was the late Martin Coffman Shaffer, who died in 1908 near Philadelphia in western Marion county. He took over the mill in 1887, purchasing it from Amos Hitt, but prior to that he had rented it for several years from Lee and Ike Barkley and Willis Baxter.

Shaffer's grandson, Harold H Haines 737 State street, has made an extensive study of the mill history and has an account book kept by Shaffer from 1893 to August 19. 1899. Haines' mother Mrs. Mary A. Haines, is Shaffer's only surviving child.

Farmers from all over this section used to come to the mill to have grain ground and some came from Illinois taking a ferry across the Mississippi river. In the old days some of the mill customers took several days for the trip.

South of the machine shed stood a scale which weighed the wagons full of corn and wheat. Part of the finished corn meal would be retained by the miller as payment or if the customer chose he could pay for grinding outright

When the big stone burrs became smooth from grinding they were roughened again with iron picks. Shaffer made white flour for a while but during the last years of operation made only graham four and corn meal.

A few years before he discontinued business he took his son William and daughter Elizabeth into the business. The mill also kept a stock of oil, tobacco, vinegar, salt, and similar items for sale.

Had Wagon Route

Shaffer sold meal to Hannibal stores and operated a wagon route to Palmyra, Mt. Zion, West Ely, and other nearby communities.

The mill operated nearly all year round, stopping sometimes when water froze too solidly in the mill race. The race was about three feet wide and had rock sides which still are in good condition near the building. It started from Clear creek about a half mile from the mill and ran into a mill pond above the mill site.

When water in the pond became high, it ran into the "forbay" a box made of oak 3 feet wide 5 feet deep and 20 feet long. This held enough water to keep the mill wheel turning for nearly an hour.

When the forbay ran dry, a gate at the lower end was dropped, allowing the box to fill up again.

The tail race water running away from the wheel flowed into Clear creek below the mill.