The country approximately around the village
Rio nell’Elba was agriculturally intensively used, owing to
the enormous water occurrences in the valley of the mills (valle
dei mulini). This valley is so rich of water, because it is not
only fed by rain water, but particularly from the source, mentioned
the channels ( “dei canali” ).
And evenly because of this water wealth in the valley, numerous
mills were in the valley since old time, which were propelled by
this water, which was made available to the owners of the local
administration for this purpose.
In the top of the valley, beside the public wash house, in 1910
were accomplished large changes, like to example filling up the
mill pond of the first mill, in the suspicion to be breeding place
for the carriers of the malaria. In 1934 only 16 of the originally
22 existing mills where always visible, while the other 6 were destroyed
partially on instruction of the local administration, partially
by the tooth of the time. Of the remaining ones, 3 where not in
enterprise but however still functional, while the fourth one was
the only functioning and also from the hygenic point of view correct.
This mill processed small quantities of grain which the individual
farmers occasionally delivered for their own personal use. The mill
remained up to the year 1950 in enterprise and during times of war,
secretly set in enterprise, the mill was a great help for the population.
Foto: I. Krempelmay
