Grinnell Mill

History of Grinnell Mill by Brenda Krekeler

Andrew and Robert Moody bought land for a mill in January 1811 and built a mill in 1813. The original building burned and was replaced with the present building in 1821. The new building was placed on the original limestone foundation. The earliest tax records that indicate a mill building at this site dates back to 1832. The mill was locally called Moody's or Moodie's Mill. Frank Grinnell bought the mill in 1864. A meadow across from the mill has seventeen springs and so the mill became known as Spring Lea Mill. The Grinnell Family owned the mill until 1948. Sometime during the 84 years that the Grinnell Family owned the mill, the mill's name changed to Grinnell Mill.

Originally, Grinnell Mill operated as a water-powered gristmill. A large undershot wooden waterwheel powered the drive shaft that turned two sets of buhrstones. The 1913 Flood damaged the waterwheel and it was replaced with a Leffel turbine in 1914. The turbine was manufactured by the Leffel Company in nearby Springfield, Ohio. Grinnell Mill also had a sawmill at one time. A limestone processor for agricultural lime functioned at the mill from 1900 through 1937.

The mill closed in 1937 due to lack of business and illness. The structure was vacant until 1948 when Antioch College bought the mill and surrounding area and incorporated it into the Glen Helen Nature Preserve. The mill building has been converted into apartments and the tenants maintain and protect the old mill.

The dam is located 1,000 feet upstream on the Little Miami River. It was originally built by Andrew and Robert Moody in 1812. It was made of rock and wood and it served until the 1913 Flood. In 1913 it was replaced with a new dam made of concrete and stone. In 1932, the present dam was built. It suffered damage in the 1937 Flood. This dam is 100' long. The water is channeled from above the dam into a 1,000' long millrace. The millrace and a side cut that diverts much of the water back into the river before it reaches the mill was also built by the Moody brothers from 1811 through 1821. The millrace averages 25' wide. The water was channeled into the turbines under the foundation at the southeast corner of the mill and exited at the back of the mill under the foundation into the tailrace.

The mill building is 2 1/2 stories tall, measuring 30' X 30' square. In 1977, the frame exterior was painted dark red and the windows were trimmed in cream. The building has a gable roof. Shake shingles have been covered with tin. There are six windows on each side of the mill and are 6 over 6 double-hung sash. The structure rests on the original 1812 limestone foundation built by the Moody's. The limestone foundation is fully exposed and it is evident where the millrace entered and exited the foundation. The millrace and tailrace can be traced but are overgrown with brush and trees.

The foundation is over 178 years old. The building is over 158 years old. Efforts have been made to maintain the building. The area surrounding the mill is historically significant but not easily accessible. The miller's house is extant at 3640 Bryan Park Road but it has been extensively altered. The Grinnell home is located at 1280 Grinnell Drive. It was built between 1855 and 1858 and remains an impressive structure. The Grinnell cemetery is close to the house with 20 old grave stones.

The area is interesting to visit and only four miles southwest of Clifton Mill. (Francaviglia).

History from 1989 through 2011

What a difference 22 years has made. Miami Township took possession of Grinnell Mill in 2004. Grinnell Mill Bed and Breakfast was opened to the public in 2008. The mill has been restored and is spectacular. The roof, the siding, the interior walls, floors, and all of the historic milling equipment have been revived. The Bed and Breakfast is part of the mill. The building has four levels. The first level is the basement which retains the gears and shafts. The second level displays two run of millstones, the main shaft that runs from the powerhouse through all four levels and antique milling equipment. The second level also has a luxury bedroom adjacent to the main mill floor. The third level has two bedrooms. You can see the beautiful photographs of the homey interior in the Bed and Brekfast. The third level of the mill has amazing historically preserved milling equipment and pictures. The forth level is truly spectacular with preserved belts and pulleys, hoist and lifts and additional milling equipment.

The exterior of Grinnell Mill also has been restored. The roof is new, the siding is painted a beautiful red and the grounds are very pretty. You can find a large waterwheel on the back side of the mill. Their ancient turbine is on display and is a fascinating piece of history.

Google Map for Grinnell

DIRECTIONS: Greene County. Miami Township. From Yellow Springs, southeast on Grinnell Road 3/4 mile, left on Bryan Park Road, at 3536 Bryan Park Road.

March 23, 2012