Meetings
The Great Lakes Chapter of SPOOM
Spring 2024 Meeting
May 18, 2024
Bear's Mill
6450 Arcanum Rd.
Greenville, Darke County, OH
Registration is due by May 4
Spring 2024 Meeting
May 18, 2024
Bear's Mill
6450 Arcanum Rd.
Greenville, Darke County, OH
Registration is due by May 4
The chapter has not met at Bear's Mill since 2001.
Registration is due by May 4. Please send it to Kay Garber, who is listed in the officer section.
Miller/Mill Manager Sophie Nieport has an outstanding event planned for us! As always, our chapter meetings are open to anyone interested in mills, and we've invited our neighbors from Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast Chapters to this meeting.
Schedule
9:00 - 9:45 Registration and Social Time
9:45 - 12:00 Full tour, including a live grinding demonstration (dress for the weather; part of the tour is outdoors)
12:00 - 1:45 Catered lunch at the mill and chapter business meeting
2:00 - 4:30 Optional canoe/kayak tour (weather permitting)
COST: $20 per person
Lunch is catered by Montage Cafe in Greenville. Menu: baked honey Dijon ham, roasted vegetable lasagna, honey glazed carrots, 7-layer salad, and wild rice, pilaf blend, scalloped potatoes.
Lodging: On your own. Numerous affordable options are available along I-75 between Dayton and Lima.
Tourism: There are plenty of venues and activities in this part of Ohio if you'd like to extend your stay. Here are a few local ones suggested by our hosts:
Bike rentals in Greenville: https://www.darkecountyparks.org/bikerentals
Bradford Railroad Museum: https://www.bradfordrrmuseum.org/
Garst Museum (Darke County is the birthplace of Annie Oakley): https://www.garstmuseum.org/
Sure Shot Tap House: https://sureshottaphouse.com/sureshottaphouse.com/
Golf: https://turtlecreekon36.com
Dirt Track Racing at Eldora, there a race on the 18th! www.eldoraspeedway.com/events/?event_year=2024
Shopping downtown Greenville: www.mainstreetgreenville.org/
For questions about the meeting, please contact Craig Wiley, Great Lakes Chapter President, at 330-234-4723 or [email protected]
Bear's Mill is one of the few operating water-powered mills in Ohio today. A rare historic landmark. The Mill is located on the eastern outskirts of Greenville, Ohio, along a peaceful stretch of creek-side woodlands.
Built in 1849 by Gabriel Bear, Bear's Mill's grand framework is constructed of exquisite hand-hewn timber beams that are nearly 50 feet long - without a single splice. Standing four stories high, grain is carried from floor to floor throughout the inner workings of the Mill by the power of the water that runs through the mill race below. _ from the mill website.
Registration is due by May 4. Please send it to Kay Garber, who is listed in the officer section.
Miller/Mill Manager Sophie Nieport has an outstanding event planned for us! As always, our chapter meetings are open to anyone interested in mills, and we've invited our neighbors from Kentucky, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeast Chapters to this meeting.
Schedule
9:00 - 9:45 Registration and Social Time
9:45 - 12:00 Full tour, including a live grinding demonstration (dress for the weather; part of the tour is outdoors)
12:00 - 1:45 Catered lunch at the mill and chapter business meeting
2:00 - 4:30 Optional canoe/kayak tour (weather permitting)
COST: $20 per person
Lunch is catered by Montage Cafe in Greenville. Menu: baked honey Dijon ham, roasted vegetable lasagna, honey glazed carrots, 7-layer salad, and wild rice, pilaf blend, scalloped potatoes.
Lodging: On your own. Numerous affordable options are available along I-75 between Dayton and Lima.
Tourism: There are plenty of venues and activities in this part of Ohio if you'd like to extend your stay. Here are a few local ones suggested by our hosts:
Bike rentals in Greenville: https://www.darkecountyparks.org/bikerentals
Bradford Railroad Museum: https://www.bradfordrrmuseum.org/
Garst Museum (Darke County is the birthplace of Annie Oakley): https://www.garstmuseum.org/
Sure Shot Tap House: https://sureshottaphouse.com/sureshottaphouse.com/
Golf: https://turtlecreekon36.com
Dirt Track Racing at Eldora, there a race on the 18th! www.eldoraspeedway.com/events/?event_year=2024
Shopping downtown Greenville: www.mainstreetgreenville.org/
For questions about the meeting, please contact Craig Wiley, Great Lakes Chapter President, at 330-234-4723 or [email protected]
Bear's Mill is one of the few operating water-powered mills in Ohio today. A rare historic landmark. The Mill is located on the eastern outskirts of Greenville, Ohio, along a peaceful stretch of creek-side woodlands.
Built in 1849 by Gabriel Bear, Bear's Mill's grand framework is constructed of exquisite hand-hewn timber beams that are nearly 50 feet long - without a single splice. Standing four stories high, grain is carried from floor to floor throughout the inner workings of the Mill by the power of the water that runs through the mill race below. _ from the mill website.
Bear's Mill
6450 Arcanum Bears Mill Rd, Greenville, OH 45331
6450 Arcanum Bears Mill Rd, Greenville, OH 45331
Fall Meeting @ Kister Mill in Wayne County, OH
Fall meeting at Kister Mill, Wayne County, OH.
Saturday, October 11 & 12
More information about the upcoming events will be posted as it becomes available.
https://wrlandconservancy.org/special_project/kister-mill/
Saturday, October 11 & 12
More information about the upcoming events will be posted as it becomes available.
https://wrlandconservancy.org/special_project/kister-mill/
Past Meetings
At the bottom of the page is a list of all past meetings of the Chapter. If you have pictures of these meetings or mills, please send them to Vince for publication. [email protected].
Summer 2023 Meeting
Messer - Mayer Mill, Richfield WI
In 1869, Andrew Messer and his new bride Louisa, purchased 27 acres of land from his parents that he had grown up on, which contained a millpond, dam, raceway, and sawmill. On this property, he proceeded to build a three-story gristmill, now known as the Messer Mayer Mill.
Four years later, in 1873, the mill was up and running, producing ground flour from wheat grown by the surrounding farmers. Andrews' untimely death involving a horse caused the sale of the property to an uncle, John George Mayer, in August 1876. John and his family operated the grist and saw mill for three generations until 1954 saw the last of mechanical operations in the mill. The mill still contains the two sets of original French burr stones, conveyor, and bolter. Also are displayed four double roller mills, bolters, plansifter, elevators, and conveyors. All added equipment, at the time, was state of the art! All as it was installed years ago, and hopefully ready to be operational soon. |
SPRING 2023 MEETING
Adams Mill
The spring chapter meeting is planned to be held at Adams Mill on May 6, 2023. Adams Mill is located in Cutler, IN. Not far from the mill is the Lancaster Covered Bridge.
https://www.adams-mill.org/
Adams Mill
The spring chapter meeting is planned to be held at Adams Mill on May 6, 2023. Adams Mill is located in Cutler, IN. Not far from the mill is the Lancaster Covered Bridge.
https://www.adams-mill.org/
Fall 2022
The Great Lakes Chapter meeting conjunction with the 50th Anniversary of the Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM) at the Bellevue Gothic Mill in Michigan. See the Mill tab of website to learn more about this mill.
Spring 2022 Meeting
Pears Mill, Buchannan, MI
No meetings held in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID 19
Spring 2019 Meeting
Lanterman's Mill, Youngstown, OH
Fall 2019 Meeting
The fall chapter meeting was held at Rock Mill. The mill was grinding corn during the visit, which has been recently restored to operational condition. The mill contains several very interesting models to show how the components function. The mill is continuing to be restored and the members were able to visit all five floors of the mill.
The luncheon and chapter meeting were held on the covered bridge which crosses the water source for the mill. In addition the mill provided a nice gift bag. About Rock Mill:
Rock Mill is in central Ohio south of Columbus near the community of Lancaster. The mill is located on the Hocking River. The mill structure has a large overshot waterwheel. Near the mill is a small white covered bridge. The waterwheel sits in a gorge cut by the river and has a dam located upstream from the mill. The mill structure is believed to have been built around 1824. It was probably only slightly used after the 1900s.[1] The Hocking River begins just a few miles above the mill, the waterfall is best seen from the floor of the gorge and is a very pretty feature. Access to the gorge is available but great care should be taken. The mill is owned by the county parks system and is in the process of being restored. One of the most recent additions to the mill was a new 24-foot waterwheel. The mill was visited as part of the 2016 annual SPOOM conference. The mill is very picturesque and there are lots of locations that can be used for interesting pictures. The photographer will need to have a wide-angle lens to get all the features of the mill in a single image which is best accomplished from the gorge. The trees around the mill have wonderful colors in the fall. [1] Taken in part from an unpublished handout by Bruce E. Babcock, September 23, 2012. |
Spring 2018 Meeting
Century Village Museum, Burton, OH
Fall 2018 Meeting
Scott's Mill, Scotts, MI
While the day was rainy in the small community of Scotts, Michigan a good turn was held for the fall meeting. The group had a chance to complete explore this old mill, which had three different power sources, an overshot waterwheel, a turbine and a gasoline engine (no longer at the mill). While the mill is not operational there is a fair amount of equipment in the structure which appears to be very sound. A short business meeting was held at a local restaurant which had outstanding food.
Spring 2017 Meeting
The Old Mill Spencer, OH
Fall 2017 Meeting
Hadley Mill Museum, Hadley, MI
SPRING 2016 MEETING
Parker Mill County Park, Ann Arbor, MI
FALL 2016 MEETING
Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, MI
Past MeetingS
GREAT LAKES CHAPTER SPOOM MEETINGS
from the date of the Charter to the present (updated 5/1/2023)
The Charter was formed on May 18, 1986
1986 May 18 Wolcott Mill, Romeo, MI (Charter formed)
Oct. 5 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
1987 May 3 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
Sept. 26 Crossroads Village, Flint, MI
1988 April 24 Fair Lane Manor & Estate Powerhouse, Dearborn, MI
Sept. 18 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
1989 April 16 Greenock Mills, South Lyon, MI
Sept. 8-10 hosted SPOOM National Conference (Ann Arbor, MI area mills)
1990 May 5 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
Oct. __ Wolcott Mill, Romeo, MI
1991 May 5 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
Oct. 6 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
1992 May 17 Wolcott Argentine Mill, Argentine, MI
Oct. 7 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
1993 May 15 Clifton Mill, Clifton, OH
Oct. 2 Paint Creek Cider Mill & Restaurant, Rochester, MI
Wolcott Mill Metropark, Romeo MI
Yates Cider Mill, Rochester Hills, MI
1994 May 15 Mansfield Mill & Bridgeton Mills, Mansfield, IN
Oct. 8 Cheesebrough Mfg., Freeport, MI
Fallasburg Power Plant, Lowell, MI
1995 May 6 & 7 Indian Mill & State Memorial, Upper Sandusky, OH
Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
September hosted SPOOM National Conference (Bonneyville Mill, Pears Mill, Greenfield Mills)
Oct. 14 Leighton water powered sawmill, Otsego, MI
1996 May 18 & 19 Fowler’s Mill, Chardon, OH
Garrett’s Mill, Garrettsville, OH
Williams Bros. Mill, Kent, OH
Oberlin Windmill, Oberlin, OH
Oct. 26 & 27 Rastetter Woolen Mill, Millersburg, OH
Kister Mill, Shreve, OH
Mishler Weaving Mill, Smithville, OH
The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
1997 May 2-4 Ann Arbor, Michigan area: Jiffy Mixes (Chelsea), Sharon Hollow Winery, Manchester Mill, Heyden Mill, Tecumseh & Dundee Mills
Oct.25 & 26 Adams Mill, Cutler, IN
Canal site, Delphi, IN
John Woods Mill, Deep River County Park, Hobart, IN
1998 June 6 Hamer Mill, Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell, IN
Williams Mill and Dam, Williams, IN
Oct. 24 & 25 Vernon Miller Cider Mill, Middlebury, IN
Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville, IN
Wilmot Mill, Wilmot, IN
1999 June 12 Metamora Grist Mill, Whitewater Park, Metamora, IN
Sept. 18 Hodunk Mill near Union City, MI
Leonidas Mill, Leonidas, MI
Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
2000 June 24 Farwell Mill, Farwell, MI
Millbrook Mill, Millbrook, MI
Oct. 14 Stockport Country Inn, Stockport, OH
2001 May 5 & 6 McConnells Mill State Park, Portersville, PA
Lanterman’s Mill, Youngstown, OH
Gaston’s Mill, Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, OH
Sept. 29 Shuey Mill, Germantown, OH
Bear’s Mill, Greenville, OH
Hoover Mill, West Milton, OH
John Stump/Mudlick Mill, Germantown, OH
2002 May 18 Pears Mill, Buchanan, MI
Sept. 21 Star of the West Flour Mill, Frankenmuth, MI
Nickless-Hubinger Mill, Frankenmuth, MI
Crossroads Village, Flint, MI
2003 May 31 DeZwaan Windmill, Holland, MI
Oct. 11 Wolf Creek (Pine Run) Grist Mill, Loudonville, OH
Kister Mill, Shreve, OH
2004 June 5 Algonquin Mill, Carrollton, OH
Oct. 9 Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI
2005 May 21 Stockdale Mill, Roann, IN
Oct. 1 Westwind Milling Co., Argentine, MI
Linden Mill, Linden, MI
2006 May 20 Polk Mill & Elevator, Polk, OH
Oct. 21 Sharon Mills, Sharon Hollow, MI
Aber Orchard, Manchester, MI
2007 May 19 Mansfield Roller Mill, Carbon, IN
Bridgeton Mill, Bridgeton, IN
Oct. 13 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
2008 May 31 Hadley Mill Museum, Hadley, MI
Oct. 11 Bellevue Gothic Mill, Bellevue, MI
2009 May 17 Greenfield Mills, Howe, IN
Oct. 16 Beck’s Mill, Salem, IN
2010 May 15 Rock Mill, Lancaster, OH
Oct. 23 The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
2011 May 14 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
Oct. 15 Staley Farm & Mill, New Carlisle, OH
2012 May 19 Jasper City Mill, Jasper, IN
Oct. 20 Wolf Creek (Pine Run) Grist Mill, Loudonville, OH
2013 May 4 Sauder Village, Archbold, OH
Oct. 5 Stockdale Mill, Roann, IN
2014 May 2 Mennel Milling Company, Fostoria, OH
Sept. 20 Magnolia Mill, Magnolia, OH
Algonquin Mill, Carrollton, OH
2015 May 2 Mansfield Roller Mill, Carbon, IN
Bridgeton Mill, Bridgeton, IN
Sept. 26 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
2016 May 20 Parker Mill County Park, Ann Arbor, MI
Sept. 10 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
2017 May 6 The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
Sept. 30 Hadley Mill Museum, Hadley, MI
2018 May 12 Century Village Museum, Burton, OH
Oct. 6 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
2019 May 18 Lanterman’s Mill, Youngstown, OH
Sept. 28 Rock Mill, Lancaster, OH
2020 No meetings (COVID Pandemic)
2021 No meetings (COVID Pandemic)
2022 May 21 Pears Mill, Buchanan, MI
Oct. 15 Bellevue Gothic Mill, Bellevue, MI (with SPOOM Conference attendees)
2023 SCHEDULED MEETINGS
May 6 Adams Mill, Cutler, IN
July 23 Summer outing to Messer/Mayer Mill, Richfield, WI
Sept. 9 Elowsky Mill, Posen, MI
from the date of the Charter to the present (updated 5/1/2023)
The Charter was formed on May 18, 1986
1986 May 18 Wolcott Mill, Romeo, MI (Charter formed)
Oct. 5 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
1987 May 3 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
Sept. 26 Crossroads Village, Flint, MI
1988 April 24 Fair Lane Manor & Estate Powerhouse, Dearborn, MI
Sept. 18 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
1989 April 16 Greenock Mills, South Lyon, MI
Sept. 8-10 hosted SPOOM National Conference (Ann Arbor, MI area mills)
1990 May 5 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
Oct. __ Wolcott Mill, Romeo, MI
1991 May 5 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
Oct. 6 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
1992 May 17 Wolcott Argentine Mill, Argentine, MI
Oct. 7 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
1993 May 15 Clifton Mill, Clifton, OH
Oct. 2 Paint Creek Cider Mill & Restaurant, Rochester, MI
Wolcott Mill Metropark, Romeo MI
Yates Cider Mill, Rochester Hills, MI
1994 May 15 Mansfield Mill & Bridgeton Mills, Mansfield, IN
Oct. 8 Cheesebrough Mfg., Freeport, MI
Fallasburg Power Plant, Lowell, MI
1995 May 6 & 7 Indian Mill & State Memorial, Upper Sandusky, OH
Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
September hosted SPOOM National Conference (Bonneyville Mill, Pears Mill, Greenfield Mills)
Oct. 14 Leighton water powered sawmill, Otsego, MI
1996 May 18 & 19 Fowler’s Mill, Chardon, OH
Garrett’s Mill, Garrettsville, OH
Williams Bros. Mill, Kent, OH
Oberlin Windmill, Oberlin, OH
Oct. 26 & 27 Rastetter Woolen Mill, Millersburg, OH
Kister Mill, Shreve, OH
Mishler Weaving Mill, Smithville, OH
The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
1997 May 2-4 Ann Arbor, Michigan area: Jiffy Mixes (Chelsea), Sharon Hollow Winery, Manchester Mill, Heyden Mill, Tecumseh & Dundee Mills
Oct.25 & 26 Adams Mill, Cutler, IN
Canal site, Delphi, IN
John Woods Mill, Deep River County Park, Hobart, IN
1998 June 6 Hamer Mill, Spring Mill State Park, Mitchell, IN
Williams Mill and Dam, Williams, IN
Oct. 24 & 25 Vernon Miller Cider Mill, Middlebury, IN
Mid-America Windmill Museum, Kendallville, IN
Wilmot Mill, Wilmot, IN
1999 June 12 Metamora Grist Mill, Whitewater Park, Metamora, IN
Sept. 18 Hodunk Mill near Union City, MI
Leonidas Mill, Leonidas, MI
Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
2000 June 24 Farwell Mill, Farwell, MI
Millbrook Mill, Millbrook, MI
Oct. 14 Stockport Country Inn, Stockport, OH
2001 May 5 & 6 McConnells Mill State Park, Portersville, PA
Lanterman’s Mill, Youngstown, OH
Gaston’s Mill, Beaver Creek State Park, East Liverpool, OH
Sept. 29 Shuey Mill, Germantown, OH
Bear’s Mill, Greenville, OH
Hoover Mill, West Milton, OH
John Stump/Mudlick Mill, Germantown, OH
2002 May 18 Pears Mill, Buchanan, MI
Sept. 21 Star of the West Flour Mill, Frankenmuth, MI
Nickless-Hubinger Mill, Frankenmuth, MI
Crossroads Village, Flint, MI
2003 May 31 DeZwaan Windmill, Holland, MI
Oct. 11 Wolf Creek (Pine Run) Grist Mill, Loudonville, OH
Kister Mill, Shreve, OH
2004 June 5 Algonquin Mill, Carrollton, OH
Oct. 9 Greenfield Village, Dearborn, MI
2005 May 21 Stockdale Mill, Roann, IN
Oct. 1 Westwind Milling Co., Argentine, MI
Linden Mill, Linden, MI
2006 May 20 Polk Mill & Elevator, Polk, OH
Oct. 21 Sharon Mills, Sharon Hollow, MI
Aber Orchard, Manchester, MI
2007 May 19 Mansfield Roller Mill, Carbon, IN
Bridgeton Mill, Bridgeton, IN
Oct. 13 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
2008 May 31 Hadley Mill Museum, Hadley, MI
Oct. 11 Bellevue Gothic Mill, Bellevue, MI
2009 May 17 Greenfield Mills, Howe, IN
Oct. 16 Beck’s Mill, Salem, IN
2010 May 15 Rock Mill, Lancaster, OH
Oct. 23 The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
2011 May 14 Bowens Mills, Middleville, MI
Oct. 15 Staley Farm & Mill, New Carlisle, OH
2012 May 19 Jasper City Mill, Jasper, IN
Oct. 20 Wolf Creek (Pine Run) Grist Mill, Loudonville, OH
2013 May 4 Sauder Village, Archbold, OH
Oct. 5 Stockdale Mill, Roann, IN
2014 May 2 Mennel Milling Company, Fostoria, OH
Sept. 20 Magnolia Mill, Magnolia, OH
Algonquin Mill, Carrollton, OH
2015 May 2 Mansfield Roller Mill, Carbon, IN
Bridgeton Mill, Bridgeton, IN
Sept. 26 Isaac Ludwig Mill, Grand Rapids, OH
2016 May 20 Parker Mill County Park, Ann Arbor, MI
Sept. 10 Bonneyville Mill, Bristol, IN
2017 May 6 The Old Mill, Spencer, OH
Sept. 30 Hadley Mill Museum, Hadley, MI
2018 May 12 Century Village Museum, Burton, OH
Oct. 6 Scotts Mill, Scotts, MI
2019 May 18 Lanterman’s Mill, Youngstown, OH
Sept. 28 Rock Mill, Lancaster, OH
2020 No meetings (COVID Pandemic)
2021 No meetings (COVID Pandemic)
2022 May 21 Pears Mill, Buchanan, MI
Oct. 15 Bellevue Gothic Mill, Bellevue, MI (with SPOOM Conference attendees)
2023 SCHEDULED MEETINGS
May 6 Adams Mill, Cutler, IN
July 23 Summer outing to Messer/Mayer Mill, Richfield, WI
Sept. 9 Elowsky Mill, Posen, MI