New York Ironweed Close Up
Whites Mill Refuge
Dana Koogler
Thursday Sept. 6, 2018
I had been wanting to go see a place that is about ten minutes from my house.
It is a waterfowl refuge. It did not look like much on satellite view, but seeing as how
it was that close I figured it was worth a look. It was not a complete waste of time, but
this time of year it is so overgrown there is no walking in there. Unless you want to plow
endlessly through weeds as high as your head that is. It is also supposed to be a marsh.
I did not have any plans to wade out into that mess without being able to at least see
the ground to tell how firm it was before stepping. I found the ruins of Whites Mill.
I like old grist mills. I am not sure how this one was powered. Crooked Creek is right
near it, but not beside it. They had to pipe water from the stream somehow in the past.
Also there is no longer a mill wheel here. I'd love to learn some history of this structure.
I've not run onto any thus far despite having looked online.
Steps still standing but the floor of the top part is largely rotted out.
Back side of the ruins
Spotted Jewelweed growing by Crooked Creek
Cluster of purple New York Ironweed
