200-year-old mill, and the miller is 92: He returned from Belgrade to revive family business

Photo S. Tasic

Milivoje Stankovic (92) from the Golemo Selo vllage near Vranje maintains his 200-year-old watermill even in the tenth decade of his life.

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Electric mills led to the shutdown of watermills. But, thanks to the fact that breads made out of whole grains have become more and more common on the tables in many households in Serbia, the old-style watermills are being renovated and activated.

In the past, every village in Poljanica had several watermills. Wheat, corn, rye and barley were all ground there. And so Grandpa Mile, as he is called here, returned from Belgrade to his native village and started grinding grain in the mill, just like he used to do in his childhood and early youth.

"As far as I can remember, the watermill has been grinding grain, except when, due to summer droughts there is not enough water to move the wheel. My grandfather and father said that our ancestors used to grind grain here, and that this tradition has lasted for 200 years. I lived and worked in Belgrade, and then after retiring, I returned with my wife to my home village," says Grandpa Mile.

He says that he now makes flour for his own needs, but also for everyone else who brings in grain, and of course, does this for free.

He expects that with the fall rains, there will be water in the mountain stream that will restart the millstone.

Also, as he says, he hopes that the tradition will be continued by his descendants, at least as a hobby.

(S.T.)