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Looking at the second phase of the Industrial
Revolution, Jack Brown will present to the Big Walnut Area
Historical Society beginning July 13. This YouTube program will be
available through the rest of July. To access it, use the link
posted on the website at http://BigWalnutHistory/org.
Last fall, Brown introduced us to the beginning of the industrial
revolution. This month he is presenting the second phase. How
struggles with flooding coal mines set the stage for three distinct
periods of steam engine development and application. The Connection
between steam power and water power is the underlying theme for this
YouTube video. A number of critical Ohio Industries will be
featured.
Early settlers in our community went to Zanesville to get their |
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grain ground into flour for white bread Big Belly
(now Big Walnut Creek) always had water but not always enough to run
the big wheels needed for grinding large quantities of grain. Jacob
Burrer owned the quarry along the Big Walnut outside of Sunbury at
the end of Cherry Street. Using a man made race, the mill worked
when the water was high enough.
Samuel Shriver Gammill had a sawmill and Hoop Factory on North
Street just west of Vernon. He used the spring fed ditch running
thru the north end of Sunbury to Prairie Run to generate his power.
He suggested Burrer buy the lots west of him, and install a steam
engine to operate the buhrs. They could use the scrape wood from
Gammil’s factory and water from the ‘ditch’ to generate steam power
year round. Thus the Burrer Mill moved into town. Eventually this
generated the electricity for the village.
Brown has moved from a career in community analysis and statistics
to a retirement hobby of furthering education of adults and
youngsters. In 2020, he was featured in the Columbus Dispatch
Special Edition highlighting “Everyday Heroes of Central Ohio.”
Brown has taken his love of science from his workshop to classrooms
so students can actually see how things work and even invent things
to improve tomorrow’s communities.
Brown brings a unique look at his subject. This program is bound to
make you think. |