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It was the silent dignity of the old grist mill on the side of the road that caught his attention more than a decade ago. Closed, and shuttered since the mid 1940s, the mill represented a simpler life. Little did Matthew Tate know that day, driving through the peaceful countryside, headed back to school in North Carolina, that he would someday be living here, caring for and restoring the dilapidated structure.

The mill was built in 1868 by Isaac McNeel whose family still owns the property. In the summer of 2005 Matthew returned to the area and sought out the mill’s owner, Lanty McNeel. The two spent hours wading through old photographs of the mill and its operation. By the spring of the next year, Matthew would be living on the property, without the luxury of water or electricity.

Early in the discussion, it was decided the old mill would soon fall down if it did not have a new roof, so Matthew set out to get one. With extraordinary support from the community and his neighbors, Matthew began filling out grant applications through the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. The County Landmarks Commission heard the plea for funding and responded with financial aid as well as moral support. The Snowshoe Foundation quickly followed, as did the Pocahontas County Historical Society.

After two years of arduous work, a replacement black metal roof was in place. The new roof would not be the end of the work, but merely the beginning. Matthew is now striving to insure the mill is operative, producing flour from local grain. The most important element is getting water to the wheel. Stomping Creek, the nearby water source, is spring fed and dependent upon adequate rainfall amounts during the summer and fall. Two years of drought limit the mill’s capability but not the dream to have a fully functional mill.

“My dream is to eventually produce electricity from this mill, operate the machinery so the public can see it yielding a finished product, and to have fun while doing it.” If past history is any indication, Matthew is sure to achieve his dreams.