An 1844 gear assembly was used in water mills on Cazenovia Creek at Northrup Road during the mid to late 1800's to transmit power from water wheels to grist stones and saws. Around the turn of the 20th century, this mill component was moved to 1600 Seneca Street, where it was used in operating a gristmill. Standing vertically with horses harnessed to it and walking in a circle, it generated the power needed to turn the grist stone and grind grain. The exact arrangement of the 1844 mill is not known.