Beckman Mill visitors are often impressed not only with the quality of the building’s restoration but also its originality. Other than the visual effects of natural aging, the interior of the mill looks very much like it did when it was new in 1868. This is in contrast to most other old mills which were modernized to increase output and efficiency. In those instances, roller mills replaced burr stone equipment, electric motors and diesel engines took over for water power, and modern sifting equipment replaced cylindrical bolters. Also, a large number of mills were converted from flour production to processing grain for animal feed.
Perhaps the main reason the Beckman Mill did not succumb to modern technology is that the family did not depend on it as their sole source of income, especially during the 1920s, 30s, and 40s. While the mill did provide some revenue from the sale of buckwheat flour and from shelling and cracking corn, the Beckmans supplemented those sources with other endeavors. Among them were a general store, custom threshing, trapping, vegetable gardening, egg and poultry sales, carpentry and operating a dance hall and swimming pool. That diversity, while it did not make the family wealthy, made major and costly mill improvements unnecessary.
However, a number of improvements were made over the years. The most obvious ones occurred in 1924 in the form of new siding and a protective drive-through on the building’s front and storage rooms on the south. On the inside, a unique 32-volt DC generating system was added. Driven by flat belt and powered by the mill’s center turbine, the system’s generator supplied electricity not only for the mill but also to the Beckman home and the dance hall across the pond. For demonstration purposes a replica of the generating system is being prepared for installation in the mill. Other interior additions included a corn sheller, a small belt-driven burr mill, an auxiliary elevator and other minor equipment.
While the exterior remodeling significantly changed the building’s appearance, the interior modifications did not impact negatively on originality—a bonus for the visitor interested in an authentic trip back in time.
