Joseph Chapman’s Millrace

At this location, the millrace turned due south and carried water another 200 feet into Chapman’s grist mill, built in 1822-25. The spring-fed water supply flowing through the millrace came from two sources: Mission Lake to the northwest, now Lacy Park, and La Presa Dam to the northeast, now Sunny Slope Water Co. property. The open zanjas, or ditches, joined together on the west side of the mission quadrangle at Mission Drive. After turning the 13’ 6” diameter vertical wooden wheel that powered the mill, the expended water was led from the tailrace in open trenches to irrigate the mission garden, orange orchard, and 340 acres of rich soil lying immediately south and east of the mill.

San Gabriel, California · United States