Tackett's Mill is named after an old 18th Century grist mill which was reconstructed on the north shore of the lake. The old remains were donated by Mrs. Ursula Ermert and the remains were reassembled the old mill to recreate a part of our American heritage for the benefit of tenants, shoppers, residents and visitors who come to Tackett's Mill.

The mill is powered by a 4 foot wide by 14 foot diameter overshot waterwheel which transmits power to an 8 foor diameter giant cog wheel mounted on 24" diameter oak shafts. Steel gudgeons are forced into the ends of the wooden waterwheel and gear shafts held in place by gudgeon bands which are made fast to the wood shafts by gudgeon band bolts. Bearings are mated to the gudgeon shafts and fastened to bearing mounts bolted to the stone foundation. A mill pond supplies the water fed to the waterwheel via a sluice. The sluice gate controls the amount of water fed to the waterwheel, similar to the use of a throttle in an automobile engine. When the sluice gate is raised, water flows under the gate and strikes the waterwheel. After powering the wheel, the water flows through the raceway returning to the mill pond.>