What's Old is New Again!
Time to Celebrate!
The mill restoration is complete -- come see this mechanical wonder in action on Sunday, April 19, 11am-4pm.
People of all ages will be amazed by cutting-edge 19th century technology and craftsmanship on all four floors of the mill. Everyone will enjoy tasty treats made from mill products and kids will have fun with activities just for them. Grain grinding demonstration noon-3pm. This is a FREE event and no registration is required.

 
FoCRM Wins $1,600 Mastenbrook Grant

   In its heyday more than 200 years ago, Colvin Run Mill could have produced nearly 4,000 pounds of flour

every day - enough to fill twenty 196-lb barrels. Each barrel would have been individually hand crafted to exact specifications written into Virginia law in the 1780s. We had 13 reproduction barrels already on display, and we wanted seven more to show the mill's daily output.  

   The new barrels were commissioned from cooper (barrel maker) Ron Raselis of Strawberry Banke Museum in New Hampshire who made our original barrels. They were funded by a combination of FoCRM money, public donations and a matching grant from the Park Authority's Mastenbrook program.
 
Summer Day Camps
For more information & to register on-line go to:
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/colvinrunmill/events.htm

All-American Girl: Living Dolls Camp
July 20-14   &   August 24-28 9am-12pm
Ages 5 to 9 years
August code:   266 224 8602
$190 Fairfax County residents
$205 out-of-county


Young Millers Camp
August 3-7, 9am-3pm
Ages 8 to 12 years
Registration code:  266 220 7201 
$255 Fairfax County residents
$270 out-of-county

Mini Millers Camp
July 27-31
Ages 5 to 8 years
Prices as above.
Registration code:  266 220 6801  
From the President's Desk - Final FY 2014 Report

In Memory of Mary Dettra

In November 2014 long-time Colvin Run Mill volunteer, Mary Dettra, passed away.  She had received her 20-year volunteer pin in September at the annual Volunteer Awards ceremony.  She volunteered as a teaching docent for school programs for 3rd and 4th grade students and participated in puppet shows for the younger students.  She started volunteering after her retirement and loved working with the children who came to the mill.  The staff and volunteers at Colvin Run Mill greatly miss her cheerful smile and her trademark purple.   

 

Donation in Memory of Robert Millard Cockrill

In the fall of last year one visitor to Colvin Run Mill came not just to see the mill, but to learn a little more about his family's history.  Brian Cockrill learned about the mill from genealogical research into his father's family.  His father, Robert Millard Cockrill, had ties to two prominent families in the history of the Colvin Run Mill community.   The Millard family, of course, owned the mill from 1883 to 1934, and those familiar with the history of the General Store at Colvin Run Mill will recognized the Cockrill name.  Mark Cockrill was the owner and store keeper when it operated across from the mill.  Brian Cockrill's father, Robert Millard Cockrill, was the grandson of Laura Rosella Millard, fourth child of Addison and Emma Millard who purchased the mill in 188­3, and John Calvin (Holly) Cockrill who was the fifth child born to Henry and Lucinda Cockrill.  John Calvin was brother to Mark.  Brian Cockrill's visit to the mill took place after the waterwheel shaft had split in September.  As a measure of appreciation for what has been done to restore and preserve the mill and home site, he made a sizeable donation to the Friends of Colvin Run Mill in memory of his father who died in 2013 to help replace the main shaft in the mill.  The Friends and staff at Colvin Run Mill sincerely thank him for the donation.

 
Year End Treasurer's Report
Total earnings in fiscal year 2014 were $5,842.96, including all memberships, donations, sales, and interest. Among the donations was $2,000 earmarked to replace the mill's cracked waterwheel shaft.  Expenditures (including the $2,000 for the shaft) totaled $5,995.08. 
The main expenditures were: planting and maintenance of several white oak trees on the mill grounds, reproduction miller's clothing, the Santa at the Mill holiday program, staff training, and gardening supplies.

The fiscal year ended with assets of $76,884 and operating reserves of $9,704.


 Smile Amazon

Since FOCRM memberships are free to individuals now, we will be looking for other ways to raise needed funds.  One easy, painless you can help is to make your Amazon purchases through www.smileamazon.com and designate Friends of Colvin Run Mill as the organization to receive one half of one percent of any purchases you make on SmileAmazon.  There's no increase cost to you at all.  So your normal purchases do a bit of double duty.  Next time you're thinking of buying anything through Amazon, check out www.smileamazon.com.   

 

Kitty O'Hara, 

President FoCRM