Completed in 1852 along the Salt River in Oak Brook, Illinois, by a German immigrant, the mill took grain from the local farmers and ground it into flour for bread. The builder, Frederick Graue, also housed runaway slaves in the basement and transported them along the Underground Railroad.
The site with its briskly running stream was the perfect location to harvest water power. The river was diverted allowing the water to rush under the large wooded wheel and push it. In the basement, wooden gears rotated and spun large round grindstones or buhrstones to crush corn and wheat into the consistency of flour.
The mill was operated by three generations of the Graue family before its usefulness was surpassed by modern technology. Nearly one hundred years later in 1951, after the abandoned mill was restored, it was opened as a museum.
The Museum is Located 18 Miles from Chicago, Il
The top floors of the old brick building contain exhibits of life from 1850 through 1890. Volunteers in period costumes conduct demonstrations of weaving and spinning.
The first floor gift shop houses the hands-on demonstration area. Children are invited to step behind the railing and assist the miller in removing unneeded substances from the grain and grinding it into flour. Bags of corn meal and whole wheat flour ground at the mill can be purchased at the gift shop and used to make bread. A recipe is included.
A Stop for Slaves on the Underground Railroad
Prior to the Civil War, the Graue Family also operated a stop on the Underground Railroad. The basement of the mill was connected by a tunnel to the cellar of a nearby tavern, the next stop on the line. The runaway slaves were on their way to Canada where they could not be caught and returned to their owners.
The museum houses a display depicting the lives of slaves in the early 1800's and their quest for freedom.
Historic Home in Oak Brook, Il
The mill and museum are part of the DuPage County Forest Preserve which provides scenic walking paths along the river. Also on the grounds is the home of Frederick Graue and his family. The Italianate structure, restored in 2002, is open to the public for events.
The Old Graue Mill and Museum is a value for the whole family. Located near Chicago, the trip back to the 19th century is well worth the price of admission.
Candice Kramer - As a content creator, Candee has investigated various forms of writing resulting in two feature length scripts. One, a comedy, placed in ...
Join the Conversation