Hodgson Mill: Missouri's historic mill

When I think of Missouri, and my childhood growing up here, one of the first things that comes to mind are the countless historic mills scattered throughout its winding back rounds and remote country sides. I grew up frequenting a similar spot, called jolly mill. We spent countless summer afternoons swimming in its creek, catching craw dads, sitting around camp fires, and sneaking naps in my parents camper van. We had birthday party's and grill outs. So it is no wonder why Missouri's mills will always hold a special place in my heart and memories. It is for this reason why I have decided to do a photo project, and photograph as many Missouri mills as I can in my down time, which is very seldom, but still a fun project I'll slowly try and add to.

The mill pictured below is called Hodgson mill. It was a Sunday afternoon in which the stars aligned to give me a full free day off! I packed up my photo gear into the back of the trusty Honda first thing in the morning, and took off down the windy country highway that stretches across the Arkansas border along the bottom of the state of Missouri, Some of southern Missouri's most remote roads, a good portion of which stretch through mark twain national forest, a beautiful and highly recommended drive, and very far out highway. Many of which have been there since long ago, when the native American's who called these hills home long before had paths for travel and hunting along these same stretches of wild land. If you look hard enough you might even see an old bent marker tree along the road. I cruised by listening to my road trip playlist with all the windows down which was a welcome break from the near hundred degree heat, and hunkered down for a nearly 3 hour drive, Munching on some berries I brought for the ride.

It was worth the wait, when I pulled across the creek down the winding gravel road and saw the mill. It surprised me that it was right off road, with a creek running right up to it as standard. And besides a nice old man enjoying the summers day fishing a ways down the creek, I had the mill all to myself.

I quickly grabbed these shots, knowing my time alone with the mill was likely going to be short lived. unfortunately for me, a nice family arrived with their children to picnic at the mill, just as I spent my childhood doing, but right before I was about to capture some drone video. I did not feel like ruining their picnic by sending a buzzing robot over the tops of their heads, so I decided it would be a great reason to come back in the future, and took it as a positive, that I would eventually return to Hodgson mill!