In Support of the Miller of the Wayside Inn
The Issue
This petition is to express support for Rich Gnatowski, longtime miller of the Wayside Inn, and to recognize his expertise, devotion to history, and his contributions to local culture in the past four decades.
This petition is not intended to interfere in the matters of the Wayside Inn, which has terminated the miller's job recently after his years of work. This petition, rather, seeks to add the perspective of how this distinctive gentleman has, for so many people, embodied the best of the Wayside Inn in fostering its role as an educational and historical site.
For the past 39 years, Rich Gnatowski has been the miller at the Wayside Inn. Through his efforts the mill has been far more than a classic postcard scene. He has single-handedly maintained the mill's three stories of machinery as he ground flour and cornmeal for the use of the Wayside Inn's restaurant. On a given day he could be found lifting 50-lb. bags of grain, dressing (sharpening) the millstones, adjusting the huge gears, or outdoors cutting long grass with a scythe.
To most visitors he was simply The Miller. He interpreted the mill for thousands of visitors a year, often greeting foreign visitors in their own language and surprising locals with tidbits of lore. A stickler for historical accuracy, he challenged visitors to learn something new, roping them into an impromptu contest of gristmill trivia. In addition to milling, he might be found discoursing in professorial tone (with an occasional flour-dust cough) on anything from geology to folklore, from the role of the ox to the etymology of "buckwheat."
He has inspired generations of volunteers to contribute their muscle and creativity to bettering the grounds. He ran many other events at the Wayside Inn, including the annual ice harvest and the sheep shearing. He continues to speak on diverse topics to school groups and historical societies.
By signing this petition (and adding any anecdotes or kind words) you will show both Rich and the Wayside Inn the regard in which he is held for his decades of expertise and devotion.
The Issue
This petition is to express support for Rich Gnatowski, longtime miller of the Wayside Inn, and to recognize his expertise, devotion to history, and his contributions to local culture in the past four decades.
This petition is not intended to interfere in the matters of the Wayside Inn, which has terminated the miller's job recently after his years of work. This petition, rather, seeks to add the perspective of how this distinctive gentleman has, for so many people, embodied the best of the Wayside Inn in fostering its role as an educational and historical site.
For the past 39 years, Rich Gnatowski has been the miller at the Wayside Inn. Through his efforts the mill has been far more than a classic postcard scene. He has single-handedly maintained the mill's three stories of machinery as he ground flour and cornmeal for the use of the Wayside Inn's restaurant. On a given day he could be found lifting 50-lb. bags of grain, dressing (sharpening) the millstones, adjusting the huge gears, or outdoors cutting long grass with a scythe.
To most visitors he was simply The Miller. He interpreted the mill for thousands of visitors a year, often greeting foreign visitors in their own language and surprising locals with tidbits of lore. A stickler for historical accuracy, he challenged visitors to learn something new, roping them into an impromptu contest of gristmill trivia. In addition to milling, he might be found discoursing in professorial tone (with an occasional flour-dust cough) on anything from geology to folklore, from the role of the ox to the etymology of "buckwheat."
He has inspired generations of volunteers to contribute their muscle and creativity to bettering the grounds. He ran many other events at the Wayside Inn, including the annual ice harvest and the sheep shearing. He continues to speak on diverse topics to school groups and historical societies.
By signing this petition (and adding any anecdotes or kind words) you will show both Rich and the Wayside Inn the regard in which he is held for his decades of expertise and devotion.
The Decision Makers
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Petition created on October 8, 2016