The water mill of the Velyki Komiaty village

If you’re entering the village of Velyki Komiaty from the side of the town of Irshava, right behind the bridge over the Borzhava river, you’ll see an old mill on the shore. The river is blocked off by a massive dam.



It’s been a while since the mill was used to do any sort of work. The main water channel leading to the "turbine" seems to be obstructed, although as far as I could tell all the mechanical parts appear to be in a descent shape.

The locals say the mill was owned by a priest and add that the "The priest drowned, and so the mill followed him".



This is the bridge over the Borzhava river found within a 15 minute drive from the dam.



The water collecting channel and the eroded wooden device used to prevent the backflow of water. The large blades of the turbine are found right underneath the building.



Taking a look into "the turbine room". The larger wheel seen here would spin a smaller one, which in turn would rotate the shaft through a sophisticated system of bearings in the nearby building, where the millstones were located. Several empties of vodka are "decorating" the floor. The bars on the window are bent away and somehow I’m getting a feeling it’s not because the mill serves as a shelter for the dark forces. There is little doubt though, it sheltered a fair share of drinking sessions.



That’s the back side of the mill complex. The utter collapse leaves yet another deep scar in the soul of the old amateur ethnographer like myself.



And that’s the view of the Borzhava river from a nearby valley. Used condoms are quite abundant around here and it’s safe to say the locals choose the spot as the number one destination for a romantic night underneath the stars. After all, the bridge and the dam with the wavebreakers along with the sound of the rushing river stream indeed make for a captivating ambience.

05.01.2011. 08:50

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