Old Fashioned Pond Draining at Lake Lewis
"Letting Off'" at Avera Mill Pond
Summary of Avera Mill Pond history, from various sources:
AVERA MILL POND
Avera's Mill Pond, the oldest and largest pond in Berrien County, was founded by William M. Avera, son of pioneer, Daniel Avera, covers 1470 acres, and was built in the 1870's at a cost of $3800.87
The mill dam is located about four miles east of Nashville and was built across Ten Mile Creek, which flows from Ten Mile Bay. At the mill, meal and hominy were ground, rice was husked, lumber was sawed and cotton ginned.
Workers carried loads of dirt, by wheelbarrow, and were paid $1.00 per task for hauling three square yards of dirt. A 'task' required about two days or hard labor to accomplish, and it required about two days of labor to accomplish each task, with the total cost of constructing the mill being $3800.87, and taking between about two years to complete.
One worker, Jim Griner, according to family lore, decided to have some fun, and offered to do a 'task' of work for anyone who would eat the grub worm that he had unearthed. Josiah Ray took the 'bet' and ate the grub, leaving Mr. Griner to work for two days for Mr. Ray.
J. Lonnie Lewis bought the old Avera home around 1936, near the mill, and soon thereafter purchased the millhouse and water rights. Avera Mill Pond was named Lake Lewis by the new owner. The lake became a popular location for picnics, water sports, including a ski ramp, and for fishing. There was a restaurant housed in the mill, modified to accommodate its current use. In a room on the south side of the restaurant/former mill, William M. Avera's initials, dated in the late 1800's can be found.
The lake is now owned by Gail Beasley Milligan (Life Estate).
Avera Mill Pond 'letting off' photos by Jamie Connell:
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Latest-Uploads/Latest-Uploads/11643987_svRJQC#!i=1142947028&k=nFkcHwG&lb=1&s=X3
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Latest-Uploads/Latest-Uploads/11643987_svRJQC#!i=1143116008&k=ZCqSNfD&lb=1&s=X3
BHS Class of 1957 outing at Avera Mill Pond (from BHS 1957-56-57 Yearbook)
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Schools/Berrien-High-School/Berrien-High-School-1956-1957/4689626_bvdchp#!i=87657905&k=FSG8k5Z&lb=1&s=A
Read MoreSummary of Avera Mill Pond history, from various sources:
AVERA MILL POND
Avera's Mill Pond, the oldest and largest pond in Berrien County, was founded by William M. Avera, son of pioneer, Daniel Avera, covers 1470 acres, and was built in the 1870's at a cost of $3800.87
The mill dam is located about four miles east of Nashville and was built across Ten Mile Creek, which flows from Ten Mile Bay. At the mill, meal and hominy were ground, rice was husked, lumber was sawed and cotton ginned.
Workers carried loads of dirt, by wheelbarrow, and were paid $1.00 per task for hauling three square yards of dirt. A 'task' required about two days or hard labor to accomplish, and it required about two days of labor to accomplish each task, with the total cost of constructing the mill being $3800.87, and taking between about two years to complete.
One worker, Jim Griner, according to family lore, decided to have some fun, and offered to do a 'task' of work for anyone who would eat the grub worm that he had unearthed. Josiah Ray took the 'bet' and ate the grub, leaving Mr. Griner to work for two days for Mr. Ray.
J. Lonnie Lewis bought the old Avera home around 1936, near the mill, and soon thereafter purchased the millhouse and water rights. Avera Mill Pond was named Lake Lewis by the new owner. The lake became a popular location for picnics, water sports, including a ski ramp, and for fishing. There was a restaurant housed in the mill, modified to accommodate its current use. In a room on the south side of the restaurant/former mill, William M. Avera's initials, dated in the late 1800's can be found.
The lake is now owned by Gail Beasley Milligan (Life Estate).
Avera Mill Pond 'letting off' photos by Jamie Connell:
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Latest-Uploads/Latest-Uploads/11643987_svRJQC#!i=1142947028&k=nFkcHwG&lb=1&s=X3
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Latest-Uploads/Latest-Uploads/11643987_svRJQC#!i=1143116008&k=ZCqSNfD&lb=1&s=X3
BHS Class of 1957 outing at Avera Mill Pond (from BHS 1957-56-57 Yearbook)
http://berriencounty.smugmug.com/Schools/Berrien-High-School/Berrien-High-School-1956-1957/4689626_bvdchp#!i=87657905&k=FSG8k5Z&lb=1&s=A
