Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society, Volume 52, 1981 Page: 5
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Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society 52:5-63
Archeological Investigations at the
ThomasF. cIey Hoestead,
Travis County, Texas:
An Experiment in
Historical Ace ology
Part II
Michael McEachern and Ronald W. Ralph
ABSTRACT
The Thomas F. McKinney homestead and mill complex represents an upper class Anglo rural
occupation dating after the Texas Republic Period (1850's) with subsequent occupation by rural
blacks. Pedestrian survey, archeological prospecting, and excavation by the Texas Archeological
Society Field School and Texas Parks and Wildlife personnel defined prehistoric occupations and
historic structures along with background, historical, and environmental data. Some prospecting
techniques revealed probable additional archeological features. Survey and excavation data
helped minimize site damage during development of McKinney Falls State Park.
MILL
We are pleased to hear that the Hon. Thomas F. McKinney has erected an elegant
flouring mill on Onion Creek, about four miles from the city, and is prepared to
manufacture flour of a superior quality. Among all the wants of this rich country,
none has been felt so seriously as that now supplied by the enterprise of Mr.
McKinney. Up to the present time, all the flour used in Western Texas has been
imported from the North, creating an immense drain upon the cash resources of
the country. We hope now to see this drawback arrested, in giving ample en-
couragement to the public spirited efforts of Mr. McKinney to supply among us an
all-important improvement. In no country can better wheat be grown than in ours,
and it is a burning reproach to us to longer rely upon imported flour for our daily
bread (Texas State Gazette, July 10, 1852:3).
Research Design
Excavations at the mill were designed to "trace the walls of the struc-
ture . . . [to] determine whether the mill is of the turbine type and the direc-
tion of the outlet tunnel" (Ralph and McEachern, 1974:4). TAS excavated 69
units, mostly 1 x 1 m squares, at various locations around the mill. The main
emphasis was on the machine room just south of the wheel pit where details
of walls and machinery installation were noted. Excavations in the wheel pit
were aborted when time and depth became a problem. Subsequent excava-
tion by Parks and Wildlife Department personnel (September and October,
1974) exposed the mill turbine and defined the tailrace to a certain extent.
Data concerning these excavations, artifacts, and architectural notes are pre-
sented in this report as they complement the research design.1981
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Texas Archeological Society. Bulletin of the Texas Archeological Society, Volume 52, 1981, periodical, 1981; Abilene, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1013900/m1/7/?q=%221964~%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Texas Archeological Society.