The Sawmill at Mill Brook
According to Myrtle Chappell, Fenwick 1778-1978 p. 166, Andrew Ripley had a mill on the Mill Brook, situated at the foot of "Sugar Wood Hill." On page 47 Myrtle included a hand-drawn map that shows Mill Brook, situated well northwest of Andrew's land grant, which lay at the top of the hill. According to Myrtle's map, Mill Brook ran through the grants of Samuel McCully and Thomas Forrest, part of the larger McCully Grant. Perhaps a close study of the Thomas Forrest property deeds will reveal the location of the mill. Ripley Branch Road was located in this approximate location, so perhaps today's Baird Brook was once called Mill Brook.
The description of Andrew's grant suggests that part of it was covered with spruce timber, and since Andrew lived at the home place I assume he acquired the grant mainly for a wood lot and sugar woods. Myrtle also tells us, p. 84, that the lumber for the church in Fenwick, built in 1886, was sawn at Andrew's mill which likely used a waterwheel similar to the one Neil R. Ripley uses at his sugar woods which is located at the foot of "Sugar Wood Hill."
The description of Andrew's grant suggests that part of it was covered with spruce timber, and since Andrew lived at the home place I assume he acquired the grant mainly for a wood lot and sugar woods. Myrtle also tells us, p. 84, that the lumber for the church in Fenwick, built in 1886, was sawn at Andrew's mill which likely used a waterwheel similar to the one Neil R. Ripley uses at his sugar woods which is located at the foot of "Sugar Wood Hill."