Remnant Aspects of Old Mills

Ohio's Old Mills Today

By Brenda Krekeler

Remnant Aspects of Old Mills

While doing the research on the old mills I became fascinated by remnants that I would find. In Delaware County in front of the old Hinkle Mill (permission required to visit) there are two huge millstones displayed with a cannon ball. The cannon ball was neat but what I was most impressed with was the color of one of the millstones. I have seen dozens of millstones but this one was beautiful. It was made of pink granite. Whenever I think of millstones, this pink and white stone comes to mind.

The Old Morrow Roller Mill in Warren County is in ruins. The brick walls have collapsed and the place is a mess. The site however has a long millrace so I naturally followed it to find where the channel accesses water from the Little Miami River. It was almost a mile upstream and there I found a set of sluice gates. The area had obviously not been maintained for some time but, for whatever reason, the remnant sluice gates left an impression with me. I guess it is just from exploring the area, I could sense how the workers felt as they dug the long millrace. I could imagine how much work it took to install those massive sluice gates. The area around the sluice gates talked to me and it made a lasting impression. I'll never forget that old wooden frame.

I found a remnant wheelpit at Shuster's Mill in Brown County that captivated me. It is located on the north side of the mill. This wheelpit is lined with stone and is huge. The stones are crumbling into the pit. What really interested me about this pit is that all of the research I had done on the mill prior to my visit indicated that the mill had an interior waterwheel. Apparently, at some time there was an interior wheel but there once was obviously an external waterwheel located in this pit. The place where the shaft entered the building is still identifiable which verifies the wheels past existence. I really like that wheelpit probably because it is one of only a few I have ever found. When something is rare, it is just naturally more appealing. The masonry in the wheelpit is exceptional. It is only enhanced by the masonry that is exhibited in the entire stone and brick building.

The wooden dam at White's Mill in Athens County intrigued me. It is severely damaged and just remnants remain but there is a portion of the log crib construction left and it is beautiful.

The old Augspuger Mill in Butler County is a disappointment. All of the old windows are gone and have been replaced by single pane double hung modern windows which look dreadfully out of place on the old building. Regardless, I was charmed by the brick design above the windows and doors. There is a plaque near the front door that says "1872." I fell in love with the veneer of that old building. I would just love to see it occupied! It is seething with rich history but it needs to be inhabited.

At the Kenyon/Gambier Mill I found an old, dirty paper bag that was once used to bag flour. It was printed with

GAMBIER ROLLER MILL

UP-TO-DATE

BLEACHED

Midget Maid

STRAIGHT WINTER FLOUR

GEO. B. JACOBS

GAMBIER, OHIO

49 Lbs. Net

It was exciting to me to have found a piece of history. This is sometimes when I wonder if I have listed the mill with the correct name. When mills have had numerous names it is often difficult to choose the one that should be listed first. I have an excellent photograph of that flour bag. The old flour bag is one of my favorite finds. Of course the flour bag remains at the mill. I still treasure the photograph and the memories of finding it and photographing it.

There is an old iron turbine that is displayed in front of the Isaac Ludwig Mill in Lucas County. I have found maybe 6 or 7 old turbines displayed or discarded in New York, Connecticut and Massachusetts but this is the only one that I am familiar with in Ohio. It caught my attention because it was an opportunity to witness first hand the hinged doors surrounding the blades that were attached to the shaft. I have seen dozens of sketches and a number of operating turbines but they were submerged. I just didn't get how a turbine functioned until I saw that old turbine and the miller graciously explained in great detail how it worked. It was then that I truly understood how a turbine functioned and what the importance of maintaining a good head of water was.

Old remnants, such as the turbine, were wonderful teaching tools that helped educate me about how a mill functions. When exploring an old mill site, look around and learn how to interpret the landscape and investigate all of the old remnants you stumble across. They are the voices that will enlighten you to the secrets of yesterday's milling.