Historic Mills
There are several molinos (mills) here at El Rancho de Las Golondrinas. The largest mill is the Molino Grande de Sapelló, originally located just north of Las Vegas, New Mexico, and moved to the Museum in the 1980s. Another fascinating mill is the Molino Barela de Truchas, which was moved to the Museum in the 1970s from the small mountain village of Truchas.
The flour ground at El Molino Grande de Sapello fed the soldiers at Ft. Union until 1891. This Mill has a large overshot wheel powered by water that falls from a flume turning the gears that operate the grinding stone, sifters and grain elevators. This style of mill could process large quantities of grain and even facilitate final bagging. El Molino Barla de Truchas is a more modest mill that could be acequia powered to grind flour for the people of the small mountain village that bears its name. The wheel on this mill is horizontal, turning the grinding stone and sifter with water from the acequia. The museum has 2 other mills of the same style, the Golondrinas Mill and the Talpa Mill. While not operational they serve as a testament to early industry in New Mexico.
