There was a new face operating the stone mill during this year’s Kenan’s Mill Festival.

Victor Shaw operated the water-powered turbine, replacing Jim Wood, who retired after many years of service.

Shaw has actually worked on turbines in plants in Missouri and West Virginia that are used to make flour or pasta. He said it’s remarkable how similar the water-powered Kenan’s Mill is to its electronic, modern counterparts.

“I know what modern stuff looks like … This is funny because it’s all rudimentary versions of stuff I still work on today,” Shaw said. “I said, ‘Sure, all can help.”

Shaw said he and some friends from the Blackbelt Benefit Group came up to Kenan’s Mill a few days ago to test things.

“I’ve been here five or six times playing with it. I was like, ‘Hey, I’ve got the key’ and have to work out how it is,” Shaw said.

By lunchtime Saturday, Shaw had ground about 100 pounds of corn for cornmeal. The recent drought meant that the mill couldn’t be operated  nonstop due to the low water levels.

“I’ve got it going very, very slow just to show people how it works,” Shaw said.

The grist mill was built in 1861 by James Kenan, who passed away in 1874. A concrete dam was added in 1904 by Owen Kenan and operated until 1968. The mill was restored by Wallace and Elizabeth Buchanan in 1987, according to a sign on the mill. The annual Kenan’s Mill Festival is a way to show off the mill and education people about its operation. The annual event is sponsored by the Selma-Dallas County Historic Preservation Society.

In addition to tours, those who came out enjoyed music, arts and craft vendors and games/rides for the kids.