Ludwig Mill

Isaac Ludwig Mill Video - 7 Minutes

Functioning Flour Mill & Saw Mill

The 1846 Isaac Ludwig Mill building continues to function with a saw mill and grist mill. The mill has the Miami & Erie Canal as it source of water to power the two turbines. There is also a fully functioning steam engine that powers the mill when the head is too low. You can also discover the historic office, functioning blacksmith forge in the machine shop and multiple type of milling equipment that run the machinery and whirls through the entire 4 + levels of the old mill.

Outstanding Video of Isaac Ludwig Mill Functioning - 7 Minutes

Miller Willie Ludwig demonstrates how to grind vertical millstones, corn meal sifter, mill stones, horizontal mill stones and many other milling aspects. In 1974, the Providence Metropark District started to restore the building to an authentic 1900 mill. Currently, the primary power source for the mill is the two turbines. They are located in a penstock in the basement of the mill building. Water from the canal flows into the pen stock, and drops down through the turbines which turn the shaft and transfers the energy via gears and belts to drive the sawmill and the stones. The spent water exits into the river. The steam engine is used as an alternative power source. There is a dam about one-half mile up stream of the mill site that creates deep water for 20 miles up river. It is at the dam's location that the canal is fed its water supply. The mill never runs out of water. However, because the river floods, the water at the mill site rises and equalizes with the level of the water in the canal. As the head equalizes, or is lost, the mill loses its power. Pilliod had the same problem in 1900 so he put in a steam engine and boiler. When the river would rise, he would fire up the steam engine and run with steam power. When the water went back down, he would shut down the steam engine and would mill with waterpower. Today, the Providence MetroPark institutes the same procedure. Presently, the Isaac Ludwig Mill is an authentic, functioning, turn-of-the-century grist and flourmill. It also has a turbine-powered, functioning sawmill. Visitors can witness the mechanics involved with the process of milling used in the 1800's and purchase the products produced at the mill.

Steam Engine at Isaac Ludwig Mill with the Miller - 4 Minutes, Amazing Video

August 1, 2012

The Miller Willie Ludwig, Great, Great, Great Grandson of Isaac Ludwig shows us how to use the steam engine, boilers and powerhouse. The Isaac Ludwig Mill has a rich, and colorful heritage. In 1822, Peter Manor, a French Canadian trader, built a sawmill at this site and subsequently had a small gristmill. In 1842, Peter Manor sold some land to the State of Ohio for the construction of the Miami and Erie Canal. As part of his compensation for the land he was granted perpetual water rights to power eight sets of 48" buhrstones and machinery. Today Providence Metropark District, current owner of the mill, has the water rights that obligate the State of Ohio to supply water to the mill's turbines. Manor started building a mill building but died before its completion. In 1849, Isaac Ludwig, a boat builder from Pennsylvania, bought and completed the construction of the mill. Isaac Ludwig used a breast-shot waterwheel to power the buhrstones. The mill prospered under Isaac Ludwig's management until his retirement. In 1886 Augustine Pilliod bought the mill and hired an apprentice Frank Heising, a German youth who could speak English. Many of the local farmers were German and Pilliod needed someone to interpret and talk to the farmers. While Pilliod owned the mill, he made many changes. He decided to modernize the mill and added 25 feet to the existing building. The only remnants of the original Peter Manor building are the foundation and some framing. He removed the waterwheel, installed a turbine and put in roller mills. In 1908, Pilliod introduced an electric generator powered by a 140-horsepower Trump turbine. This enabled the mill to supply electricity for the mill and the surrounding area. Toledo Edison Company bought out Pilliod in 1918. When the railroads were built through Grand Rapids, Augustine Pilliod was contracted to pump water to the steam engines at their station in Grand Rapids. Pilliod installed a water pump in the basement of the mill, blasted through solid rock in the riverbed, laid an iron pipe and pumped water with the turbine one-half mile across the river. The line is still there and comes up in the basement. The pump is also still in place, but not in use. Augustine Pilliod retired in 1918 a wealthy man. Frank Heising, the apprentice, bought the mill and operated it until his death in 1931. His son, Cleo, along with the entire family, assumed the operation of the mill. In March of 1940, fire destroyed the upper part of the second level and the roof. The building was rebuilt as it exists now. The head houses were added at this time. In 1949, a new 36" Leffel turbine was installed, upgrading the mill. At this time much of the old machinery was replaced and the business was modified into a feed mill. The flouring operation ceased with the advent of the 1940 fire.