Helping Preserve Cane Hill History

Members traveling through Cane Hill recently may have spotted Ozarks Electric bucket trucks alongside one of the community’s best-known historic landmarks.Crews assisted with restoration work on the Cane Hill Mill water wheel, helping lift and position parts of the massive steel wheel as preservation efforts continue at the site.

Built during the 1830s, the water-powered mill was known as the Pyeatte-Moore Mill and the Moore-Buchanan Mill, according to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas. It was 36 feet in diameter with 112 water buckets and 32 spokes. It was used until the 1930s.

Ed Marshall, president of the Cane Hill Restoration Association, said the long-term restoration project is largely being completed by volunteers. Marshall has been repairing and rebuilding sections of the wheel piece by piece as the association works to preserve the historic landmark for future generations.

All that remained of the Cane Hill Mill by the mid-20th century was part of the rock foundation and water wheel. (Shiloh Museum’s Reuben Blood Jr. Collection, S-2015-80-55).