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#9 - FRENCH BURR MILLSTONE Sorry folks, this is not the remnants of a wheel from the Flintstone’s vehicle. This is an upper, or “runner,” stone from a gristmill once located in Leona. It is placed bottom side up here in order to show its grinding surface. It is “dressed” with a pattern of “lands” and “furrows.” The lands refer to the raised portions, while the furrows are the grooves cut into the face using a mill pick.
When it was in use, the stone sat face down and rotated upon a stationary “bed stone.” It was kept in place by the large iron bar seen here, which was called a “balance rynd.” This stone is made from a type of quartz found near the village of Chalons in northern France. It was sent in pieces to America and joined together by a wrought iron band. This stone weighs an astounding 946 pounds.
Visit the Bradford County Historical Society Wednesday through Friday, 10 am to 4 pm to see this and hundreds of other local history pieces.
