The grist stone on display, weighing about 1,200 pounds, was probably a runner stone from the Paxson grist mill on the north side of the river. For many years it served as a stepping stone for boarding carriages in front of the Drew house on Van Nest St. Then it spent many years at the county museum in Monroe. It is considered of more value because it was imported from France in one piece, unlike many millstones that came over in pieces as ballast on sailing ships and were later banded together to form one stone. Because the runner stone rotated, it had to be balanced and adjusted to maintain a clearance of about 1mm from the bed stone. Grain was ground between the stones and worked its way to the outer edge where it fell into the bin.