The Mill was originally steam powered. The engine and boiler house were located behind the main building (the engine mounts can still be seen under the patio). The water supply came from a reservoir located on the hillside across the street which was fed by five or six springs. The “pipes” which carried the water down to the Mill boiler house were actually hollowed-out pine tree trunks laid end to end and buried underground. The water swelled the wood joints making them tight. A flume (wooden chute for the steam and water) carried the condensate from the boiler to the river.

Source: A Stroll Through Historic Emlenton June 1997