On this page, you can read the stories and view photos from the community about what they remember about the history and life of Brays Mill and the Brays Community.
If you have memories, stories or photos to share, please feel free to contact us so that we can add them. Please enjoy and be blessed!
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From Nance L. Graf
May 13, 2018
"I was born in the Brays Mill when it was an Ice Plant. I can not give you much information on the flour mill except my Great Grandfather (Alber Arendall, buried in the Brays cemetery) was the owner two different times. I have the small bucket with scale that they used to measure the moisture in the flour and the wooden paddle they used to turn the flour.
Albert’s daughter Mae Mar married my Grandfather Charles Smith. Albert gave the mill to his grandson Guy Smith. Guy Smith put a dentist office in the mill and he had his brother Isaac Smith put in the ice plant. The water wheel that is there came down the Ohio River on a barrage then to St. Louis where it was put on a train car. My father and not sure who went with him to Crocker to pick it up. I have the blue prints on how it was to be installed.
I think the floor plan is different than when I lived there. As you face the mill fron the road the front door for the house was on the right. When you went in the door the stairs for the second floor were to the right. There was s small room there where my sister’s piano was. You went left into the living room then right in to the dining room. From the dining room to the right was the kitchen and to the left was the entrance to the ice plant. There was a screened in porch off he kitchen. When you went into the ice plant there was a small office to the left. The tubs for making the ice were to the back and towards the water wheel. The freezer was in frot of the tubs. There was also a door from outside to enter the plant.
As you went out the door of the pant to the right were steps and a door that went up to the dentist office. And on the other side of those steps was the entrance to the wheel house. The race that brought the water down to the wheel came from a pond up the hill and behind the mill. There was a gate that could be closed when you didn’t want the wheel to run.
Out in front of the building was a pit where my dad backed the truck into to load the ice.
When you went up stairs at the top of the steps you turned left and on the right was a bed room, then a hall and another bedroom and straight ahead was another bedroom. On the left was another set of stairs going to the 3rd floor. There was one room up there with a door.
Good lluck with all you work."
Nancy l. (Smith) Graf
Thank you Nancy. We appreciate all of the helpful information and we
truly love the story and your fond memories!
- Becca & Brad Berg
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From Miss Kaye Hollier Kirkwood
May 11, 2018
"My husband is related. He has good memories of running around the woods up there. His Dad was Robert "Bob" Kirkwood. He was related to the Smith and Arendall families."
How amazing is that. To wonder what sorts of things he encountered and learned
running around here. I would love to hear those stories and share them along the way.
- Becca & Brad Berg of Brays {2017- Current}
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From Brenda Dake Hoffman
-Regarding photo below -
May 11, 2018
"I need to do some checking but I’m pretty sure the photos of these 2 people are in my heritage. My Grandfathers info show his address as Bray’s Mo. His parents also lived in Brinktown in 1908."
That is absolutly amazing. The history that runs through our blood has so much to
offer. Thank you Brenda. Let us know if you have any other information.
- Becca & Brad Berg of Brays {2017-Current}
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From Patti Fehlig
May 10, 2018
- Edited from Miss Patti:
" It was actually my maternal grandparents, Allen and Montie Shelton."
Response to Patti From Nance L. Graf:
"I spent many hours at All and Monties. Always had crackes and butter to eat. LOL"
Thank you for sharing Patti. I bet the life then was much calmer and less busy than today.
-Becca & Brad Berg of Brays {2017- Current}
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From Becca & Brad of Brays to Pat Hogue
May 10, 2018
{Above} Brays House Date Unknown
What a wonderful photo. This was provided to us by Pat Hogue. Thank you so very much. It is amazing to see the past of the house!
-Becca & Brad of Brays {2017-Current}
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From Peggy Fancher Thompson
May 5, 2018
"My grandpa Keeth brought grain & corn to Brays to be milled. It makes my heart happy to see all of the work that you’re doing to preserve this special place."
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From Peggy Fancher Thompson
May 5, 2018
"My grandpa Keeth brought grain & corn to Brays to be milled. It makes my heart happy to see all of the work that you’re doing to preserve this special place."
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