Schech's Mill, located in southeastern Minnesota, is one of the few remaining water-powered grist mills in the state. This section of the country is known as the Driftless Area, a 16,000 square mile area that covers portions of Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin. Noted for its deep river valleys, this area suffers periods of flooding, proving disastrous to stream-side mills.
   The Beaver Creek Valley mill was built in 1876 by John Blinn. The substantial brick mill was powered by an arrangement of four different water turbines. Master miller Michael Schech, an immigrant from Bavaria, worked at a large mill facility in Minneapolis. Hearing that the Blinn Mill was for sale, Schech and his family jumped at the chance to work for themselves. Schech's brother operated the mill until the family could relocate to the Beaver Creek Valley. Experiencing years of success, the mill was passed down through the generations and features much of the original equipment and mill stones today. Whole wheat, buckwheat, graham flour and corn meal is still ground the old fashioned way, using water power. The mill tours are conducted during Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from late May through October. The old mill stream, pictured here, is said to be an excellent place to take home a few brook or brown trout. With your sack of stone ground corn meal and stringer of trout, you'll have the start of a great dinner.

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