The rainfall and the rising waters of McMichael Creek barreled into the stone wall of Old Mill in Sciota on Tuesday, leaving behind a large hole and exposed beams.

“We worked yesterday from 4 p.m. to 5 a.m. this morning to get it supported. We came back this afternoon to continue the cleanup,” said Donald-Paul Miller, who works for Richard Pierce Builder.

Miller handed beams to his cousin Eli Angradi to pile next to the equipment on site. They are Pierce’s nephews.

“I am so happy they are fixing it. I was hoping someone would repair the damage,” said Carol Dimino, who lives in Effort and likes to her walk her dogs over the footbridge to the grassy area behind the mill.

She said the water was very tumultuous on Tuesday, and was still higher than usual on Wednesday afternoon. Other visitors agreed.

“Yesterday, the water was really high - almost too high to park in the lot. The grass below was rushing water,” said Ashleigh Beck of Effort.

She, husband Jason Beck and their three sons came by Wednesday to look at the storm damage. The family likes to fish while standing on the rocks in the water behind the mill.

“When I came by yesterday, the damage was already done to the exterior,” Jason Beck said.

Jacob Brinker built the Hamilton Township log structure in 1730s, according to www.monroehistorical.org. By the 1800s, it was replaced by a stone structure.

“The 2½-story mill houses a large overshot wheel which was used to produce flour. Water from the McMichael Creek provided power to turn the large wheel and grind corn to make various types of flour and feed. Two millers were needed to operate the mill,” Amy Leiser said in her historical account published on the website in 2006.

The Snyder family took over the mill by the 1830s and operated it for the next 100 years.

A later owner, Karl Hope, donated the mill to the township to use for historical, cultural and governmental purposes.

It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1976.