The Power of Yesterday

As we walked the grounds of the 150 acre park they’ve made around the old Newlin Grist Mill, the last thing on my mind was history.  The stream that supplied the power for the mill was simply beautiful, a natural thing to be appreciated in the afternoon light.  But as we came closer to the complex of buildings at the heart of the park; the blacksmith shop, the family home, the split rail fences, I realized people lived and worked here, not that long ago.  This was the center of agriculture in the Brandywine Valley.  The bridge crossing the small dam and spillway was so much more than a place to sit and take a picture.  The power of this stream was a source of life for so many.