Mills
This list is not a complete list of mills within the Great Lakes Chapter region. The Mills are presented in alphabetical order. All photographs are by Vince DiNoto unless otherwise noted and all rights are reserved.
Adam's Mill (IN) is located in northwestern Indiana on WIldcat Creek. It is on private property, but has public times in which it is open. It is a non-functional mill and has a metal waterwheel in the front which was not part of the mill. There is a covered bridge located near the mill. Addition pictures of the mill. The mill website.
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Algonquin Mill (OH) is located near Carrollton, OH and was constructed in 1826, which replaced a former mill structure. At the mill site is a historical farm village and operated by the local historical society. The mill is operational and can be operated by a steam engine and/or a tractor. Website
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Bear's Mill (OH) is located near Dayton Ohio in western Ohio. It is powered by a turbine, the water flows into the mill on this side of the building (see picture) and out on the far side. The water source (not pictured) is a river to the left of this picture with a mill dam a few hundred feet from the mill. The mill website. An article about this mill is in the Winter 2022 edition of Old Mill News.
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Beck's Mill (IN) - is located in Washington County of southern Indiana. This mill under went a major reconstruction project which included lifting the mill building from the foundation. The source of water is a cave located behind the mill. The waterwheel is an overshot pitch back construction which is unique. There are also two turbines which are not operational. The mill also contains a carding machine which is operational on the second floor. The mill is owned by a foundation and is open to the public. The mill website.
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Bellevue Gothic Mill (MI), is located in south central Michigan on the Battle Creek in the Village of Bellevue. The mill is privately owned and has been a family restoration project over the last 40 years. It is currently used as a home and generates hydroelectric power for the community. A video on its history and restoration can be seen here.
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Bonneyville Mills (IN), is located in northern Indiana. The mill is driven by a turbine. The water flows into the mill near the center of the building and out on the left side in this picture. The mill is owned by the county park system. For additional photographs of the mill. The mill website.
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Bridgeton Mill (IN) - located in Parke County in Indiana. Parke County has large number of covered bridges. The mill is operational and creates products which can be purchased. Mill website.
There is a covered bridge located at the mill dam of this mill. This covered bridge was destroyed several years ago and was rebuilt. |
Cedarburg Mill (WI) was a large roller mill. This mill was constructed in 1855 at a cost of $22,000. It is located in Cedarburg, there are several other mills in the town. A feed supply store is located in the old mill. Website
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Clifton Mill (OH) is located in southwestern Ohio on the Little Miami River. Behind the mill is a deep gorge. The mill is operational and is powered by a turbine. An overshot waterwheel is located behind the structure, but has no function in the mill operations. Each year the mill and gorge are lit with thousands of Christmas lights. Mill website,
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Concordia Mill (WI), was constructed in 1853, It is located near Cedarburg. A website with additional information.
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De Zwaan Windmill (MI) is located at Windmill Island Gardens in Holland. The 18th-century windmill was moved from the Netherlands to Michigan in 1964. The lower brick structure was added in America to get the mill high enough to catch prevailing winds, a common practice in the Netherlands. Mill Website.
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Gaston Mill (OH) is located in Beaver Creek State Park. It is located near a lock on the old Sandy and Beaver Canal. The waterwheel is located to the right of the mill and has a small roofed structure covering it. The mill website.
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Grafton Mill (WI) is located in Grafton and was a grist mill and then a woolen mill, it is used for other purposes. Additional information.
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Graue Mill (IL) is located near Chicago. This mill is a museum located in Oak Brook, IL. It is one of few mills that has an undershot waterwheel. It was once a stop on the underground railroad. The mill website.
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Hadley Roller Mill (MI)
The mill was built around 1873 and is the third mill on this site. The mill was powered by turbines, in at times the mill utilized a steam engine and a gasoline engine. The mill was converted to electricity in the 1920s. The mill ceased operations in 1964 and is owned by the township parks department. A museum is also contained within the three story structure. Information obtained from a brochure. For additional pictures of Hadley Mill. |
Hambleton Mill (OH) is located in eastern Ohio, near Little Beaver Creek. It is located in what some believe is a ghost town of Spucevale. It was located on the old Sandy and Beaver Canal. It was restored on the exterior around 1974. Video of the mill.
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Indian Mill (OH) is an Ohio State Memorial located near Upper Sandusky on the Sandusky River which is in Wyandot County. This mill was built around 1861 from components of the original mill. The original mill was known as Indian Mill because it was a gift from the U.S. Government to the local Indian populations before they were removed to Kansas, thus the new mill retained the name even though the Indians were no longer in the area. The mill dam is not as high as original and thus eliminates the functionality of the mill. The mill was powered by three Leffel turbines one for each run of stones. Information was obtained from a pamphlet on the mill and the official mill website.
Jasper Mill (IN) is located in southern Indiana, in the community of Jasper which has a large German population. This is a new constructed mill in a location that probably had a mill in the past. The mill operates for demonstration purposes. Water is pumped to the waterwheel. Mill website.
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Lanterman's Mill (OH) is located in Mill Creek Park in northeastern Ohio. The mill has an internal overshot waterwheel and is functional. The mill is located in Mill Creek Park in Youngstown. There is a covered bridge upstream from the mill. This photograph appeared on the cover of Old Mill News. Mill website.
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Ludwig Mill (OH) - is located on a former canal system in northwestern Ohio across the Maumee River from Grand Rapids in Lucas County. The mill was constructed in 1866 and ceased operations in 1972, it was rebuilt following a fire in 1940. The mill has been restored showing several different operations. The water from the canal flows through the mill and exited into the river. The Maumee River is located to the left in the picture and the canal is in the foreground. The mill has had several different uses which include: generation of electricity, sawing wood and grinding grain. The last operation was as a feed mill. There is also a blacksmith shop at the mill. There is a canal boat which offers rides as well as a lock located near the mill.
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Magnolia Flouring Mill (OH) is located in Magnolia and received water from Sandy and Beaver Canal. It is operational with a large amount of equipment. It is owned by the county park system. Mill Website.
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Mansfield Mill (IN) is located in Parke County. Parke County has a large number of covered bridge. There is a covered bridge near the mill and is the best location to view the backside of the mill. This photograph was taken from the covered bridge. In the fall of each year the county hosts a covered bridge festival. This mill is operated by the state of Indiana. Mill website.
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Messer/Mayer Mill (WI), this grist mill was built in Richfield in 1871. It ceased operations in 1954. All of the original equipment is intact in the mill. The Richfield Historical Society is responsible for its restoration. The mill is open for tours during the Society’s events and the 2nd Sunday of May through August (noon to 3). Mill Website.
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Metamoria Mill (IN) is operated by the state of Indiana. The source of water is the old Whitewater Canal and the waterwheel sits in one of the former canal locks. The location is an Indiana historical site. There is an excursion train that runs on tracks located between the waterwheel and the mill. The railroad tracks are on the old tow path. Nearby is the only covered bridge in existence made to carry water in United States. There is a canal boat that offers rides. This community has many gift shops. This photograph was taken while the canal was drained. A website related to the mill.
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Old Mill (OH) - this mill is privately owned and the mill can be observed from the township road. Also on the property is a restored millers house. The waterwheel is of a breastshot type and located behind the mill. The waterwheel is not connected to power the mill, but the mill is operational with electrical motors. Please respect the owners property. For additional photographs of the mill.
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Parker Mill (MI) is located near Ann Arbor. The mill is owned by the local park district and has been restored to operational condition. The mill is one of the oldest in Washtenaw County. The building on the right is the former grist mill built in 1873 and the cider mill is on the left constructed in 1887, but was only operational for a short time. The water from Fleming Creek enters the mill from the front side which is one floor higher than the backside shown in the picture.
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Pears Mill (MI) is located in southern Michigan. It is in the small town of Buchanan one block off the downtown. The mill is owned and operated by a non-profit organization. The mill website.
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Rock Mill (OH) is in the process of being restored. It has had a new waterwheel recently added. This is a very large mill located south of Columbus, located on the Hocking River. It is owned by a local parks district. There is a covered bridge located at the site also. For additional photographs of the mill. Mill Website.
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Rock Mill (WI), this mill is located in a campground when visited and was built in 1847. A website about historical marker at the mill.
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Scotts Mill (MI), is located in Scotts Mill Park in Kalamazoo County (admission is charged). The mill was originally constructed in the 1870s. The mill contains a fair amount of equipment, but is not operational. It appears the mill had undergone a major restoration project in the past. An overshot waterwheel is located on the backside of the mill building. The mill was also powered by a turbine, the turbine has been removed and is inside of the mill. A gasoline engine was also used for a power source and had been located in the brick structure, the engine and all components have been removed. For additional photographs. The official mill website.
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Spring Mill (IN) - is in a state park by the same name in Lawrence County (admission charged). This is a very large structure. The item located to the right of the mill is a saw mill which is also water powered. The waterwheel is large feed by springs. A historical village is located near the mill. Additional pictures.
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Squire Boone Mill (IN) - is located in Harrison County in southern Indiana. Squire Boone was a brother of Daniel Boone. The mill water source is from a cave which is located to the right of the mill in the picture. The mill building is not original structure but is a reconstruction using an old log cabin and features from the original mill (needs confirmation). Tours of the cave are offered. Website
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Staley Mill (OH) is located in western Ohio. The mill contains lots of equipment and located on private property. There is a micro-distillery (Indian Creek) located on the property which is open to the public. The outside of the building can be photographed without trespassing. This mill was previously painted red. Website
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Stockdale Mill (IN) is located near Roann in north-central Indiana. The mill is functional and is powered by a turbine. The water source is the Eel River. There is a covered bridge nearby. Website
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Stockport Mill (OH) was a large mill and the building now is used as an Inn. The mill is located in southern Ohio south of Zanesville, on the Muskingum River at Lock 6. This current mill building was constructed in 1906 and replaced two earlier mills at this location which each burned. The milling equipment was operated by electricity generated from the water at the site by three Leffel turbines. Currently two turbines are being used to create electricity at the mill (Inn) according to their website. The electricity is used by the Inn and any additional electricity sold to the local utility.
Tipp City Roller Mill (OH) is located in western Ohio, it is a large building and is now used as a concert house. There is little to no milling equipment contained in the building. It sits next to an old lock of the Miami Erie Canal. There is no water in the canal at this location. Website
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Wolf Creek / Pine Run Mill (OH) is located in western Ohio. It is located near a campground Website
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Wood's Mill (IN) is located in northwestern Indiana. Deep River County Park is the location of the mill. It is a non-functional mill. Website
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Ye Olde Mill (OH) is the home of Velvet Ice Cream located in central Ohio. It is a new construction and the waterwheel is a decoration. The original mill building burnt in 1986.
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