Old Grindstone In Family Creek

[brschroeder81]

I live in Northern Wisconsin and pulled this out of my grandparents stream that runs behind their house last weekend. They've owned the land for 50 years and prior to that it was all undeveloped. The town they're located in started out as a logging community in the mid 1800's. We've had a lot of heavy rain this Spring and think that's how it was unearthed. I reached out to our local historical society to find out if they know of any other stones being discovered in the area. What I'm really curious to find out is approximately how old it might be. Does this style look familiar to anyone that they might be able to shed some light on? Thank You!

 

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[vpnavy]

1st - Noticed this was your very first post - so, Welcome Aboard! Take a look at Sub-Forums: Wisconsin for information (i.e., clubs, etc.) directly related to your state.

2nd - I moved this from Today's Finds! over to Our Discoveries > What Is It? for more exposure...

 

[Icewing]

Likely a fur trade era one of these.

https://www.bing.com/images/search?...608009264460727618&selectedIndex=2&ajaxhist=0

 

[Tony in SC]

What are the measurements across the stone. If it's big enough it could a roller for a grist mill.

 

[Mud Hut]

Just about every old farm and homestead had a grinding wheel.

 

[4x4x4]

.....Nice recovery ! I notice the concentric wear marks on the flats .... same on the other side ?
All dimensions please .... we WANT to help !
....and , Welcome from Southern California.

 

[RustyGold]

Welcome to TNet!

 

[Old Pueblo]

Nice find

 

[sawmill man]

I would start with the date you posted, most any logging camp or logging towns needed and had to have grinding rocks . and yes farm steads would have had them . i guess what im trying to say is you find alot of them at old estate sales but rarely busted into ones . on the other hand a bunch of drunk loggers on pay day i can see alot of busted stuff.

 

[brschroeder81]

Here's a new shot of the stone, showing the center part. This originally broke up when I picked it up. It looks like maybe they were making the stone and maybe it broke during the process. That's why there's still rock in the middle? It's strange, i don't know. It's about 6" to center so this must have been between 12" - 14", and this section right here weights 8lbs 5 oz. There does appear to be the concentric circles on the back, but they're very faded. That was the part that was laying in the sand. Thanks for looking!

 

[4x4x4]

View attachment 1486113
Here's a new shot of the stone, showing the center part. This originally broke up when I picked it up. It looks like maybe they were making the stone and maybe it broke during the process. That's why there's still rock in the middle? It's strange, i don't know. It's about 6" to center so this must have been between 12" - 14", and this section right here weights 8lbs 5 oz. There does appear to be the concentric circles on the back, but they're very faded. That was the part that was laying in the sand. Thanks for looking!

....Question ; When looking across the flats of the stone , do you see a slight cupping or concave surface toward the "hub" ?
If so it might have been prepared as a "runner stone"(the driven stone) in a grist mill and not a sharpening stone .
In any case it was hand formed and I bet you can feel the warmth (and ire) of the artist !

 

[Nitric]

Is the center that you said was rock, could part of it be iron?

You may know this, but if the creek has or gets fast moving water the stone could have moved a long way! So, if your looking for where it might have come from, it could be upstream.

I've seen sandstone blocks, about 2ft by 4 ft maybe a foot and a half thick, move 100 yards or so over about a year. Water can get some power!!! We placed them to use as stepping blocks to get across the creek. The water has pretty much taken them away by now! And they were set by machine!! You can't lift one! Water has serious power at times!! I would have never believed that small creek got that much water to move those.

Anyhow, just a thought....

 

[tamrock]

An old axe grinning wheel that broke? Almost every farm had one before they had electricity.

 

[steelheadwill]

May have been tied to the neck of a witch before she was tossed in the river

 

[GB1]

sweet find my pawpaw has a full one

 

[mcmich]

There is a good chance that the grinding stone came from Grindstone City. There are quite a few quarry pits around the thumb of MI. There are even roads that go out into the lake where they used to cut them and haul them out.

Michigan's Grindstone City as Grindstone Capital of the World - Midwest Guest

 

[sutphin]

I THOUGHT TO BE A SCALE WEIGHT.