Stockport Mill

Morgan County, Ohio

Locks on the Muskingum River, Turbine Electric Power,

Restoration of Mill, Historic Milling Equipment & Videos

Ohio Old Mills Now

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History Written 1991 by Brenda Krekeler

The Stockport Mill site was established in 1842. The first mill was consumed by fire in 1849. Another mill was built that year. The second mill flourished for 54 years when it suffered another devastating fire. The present mill building was constructed in 1907. The Stockport Mill was built with hand-hewed beams and stands today much as it did in 1907.

Stockport Mill's main building stands 3 1/2 stories tall. The south side of the mill has a 2-story addition. The entire building is supported by a block foundation that is about 30' tall. The block foundation and basement is constructed in such a manner as to let the waters from the Muskingum River flow in the basement from above the dam, through the giant turbines that used to power the mill and exit on the south side of the mill into the river past the dam.

The photograph of the mill was taken in March, 1991, when the river was so high that when it flowed over the dam it created considerable white water and spray.

Landmark Company owned the mill from 1944 until 1974 when it was purchased by Jack Grove and his son Robert. The Grove's operate Stockport Mill as a feed mill. They are pursuing the idea of generating hydroelectric power in the mill, selling the electricity to an electric company, and using the funds to restore the mill. Wouldn't it be marvelous to have the old mill generate the funds necessitated for its restoration! (Grove, Robert)

DIRECTIONS: Morgan County. Windsor Township. In Stockport on S.R. 266 on the Muskingum River.

History Written as of 2011 by Brenda Krekeler

Facts about the Village of Stockport and the Stockport Mill

The Village of stockport was founded in 1843 by Nathan Sidwell. Sidwell also founded the village of Pennsville in 1828. He died in 1836 and is buried in Bain Cemetery near Pennsville.

Stockport is named for Stockport, England. The village was originally called Windsor. When the first post office was established, the name Windsor was changed to Stockport because there was already a Windsor, Ohio. Samuel Beswick, the first postmaster of Windsor, changed the name to Stockport because he and his brothers were born in Stockport, England.

The Stockport Mill is the last mill remaining on the Muskingum River. The first mill was built by Samuel and William Beswick in 1842 and only operated for a few years before it burned. The second mill was built in 1849 by William McCaslin and was located 100 yards downstream from the present mill. It operated for 54 years before burning to the ground on July 1st 1903. Timbers and probable remnants of the second mill's foundation can be seen embedded in a small peninsula when the river is quite low.

The present mill was constructed by the Dover brothers in March of 1906. It began elevating wheat in November of 1906, and in 1908 it began supplying electricity to the town. It was unlike the two previous mills because it was located at the end of the dam in order to better use the water pressure for power. Stockport Mill has a durable construction. A test of this construction was the 1913 flood in which the mill survived where other mills along the Muskingum River were swept away.

Stockport Mill Continued

The mill generated electricity through water power from 1908 to 1928 which gave power to the mill itself and twelve village street lights. It also produced Gold Bond (pastry) flour, Pride of the Valley (bread) flour and ground feed for livestock. The Dover heirs, who had owned the mill from construction sold it in 1942 to Fred James and Fay Devitt.

They in turn sold it to the Farm Bureau, which operated it as the franchise ceased in 1979. The mill was taken over by Robert and Jack Grove. The mill fell silent in 1997 and the equipment was sold at auction. In November of 1998, Laura and Randy Smith purchased it.

Some Information about the Original Dam at Stockport.

As work on the first dam, the Windsor dam, #6 started in the spring of 1837 navigation on the river was obstructed during the four years of works. Boats had to load and unload at every dam, which became very demanding and arduous. The dam at Windsor (Stockport's original name) was 482' long and constructed of timber. The inside of the dam was filled with stone. Some of the contractors for the dams and locks invested their profits in land along the river. Arthur Taggart, who had the Windsor contract bought hundreds of acres on both sides of the Muskingum in the Windsor area. His residence became the present "Silverheels Farm" across from Stockport.

The History Behind the Stockport Mill Country Inn

The Stockport Mill Country Inn has been open for business as a hotel and restaurant since May 2000. In November of 1998, Randy and Laura Smith purchased the mill. The Smiths are from Mansfield and just happened to be in the area for an auction, where they purchased a Hudson truck. As the two road by on their Harley Davidson Mortorcycles they noticed that the mill was for sale. Fortunately for everyone, the Groves happened to be in the mill that day. Within days, paperwork was completed and ownership was passed on to the Smith's.

Laura had big plans for the feed mill, a first-rate Inn and an exceptional restaurant. In order for her dream to become a reality, ten months of major restoration and eight months of sandblasting (48,000 pounds of sand was used for the process) had to be completed. In order to preserved the mill's history, Laura named and decorated each room pertaining to the area's history. May 25, 2000 the first guest were welcomed. The building features 14 guest rooms with private balconies overlooking the beautiful Muskingum River along with an eight-foot dining terrace which wraps around the mill's first floor restaurant. The mill also features preserved milling equipment and a gift shop.

In July 2004 the Smiths had parted and the mill was sold at an absolute auction. Dottie Singer, who also owns the Three Sisters Sunset Inn in McConnelsville, Ohio, was the winning bidder.

Turbines Started to Create Electricity again in November 2006

The basement once again came alive with the sound of spinning turbines and rushing water as the turbine re-installation process was completed in June 2002. The turbines produce around 800,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. The power supplies the electrical needs for both the Inn and Restaurant with the excess is sold back to the local power company. The original Leffel turbines were too corroded to restore but one is still on the premises, in the front of the Inn and the other in the basement. The vintage 100-year-old twin turbines now in use were found in Michigan. The turbines were constructed by David Brown-Kinloch, Soft Energy Associates and are viewable through safety glass in the basement of the Mill. The only difference between the early era turbine operation and pressent day operation is automated computerization.

Due to the enormity of the project, governement regulations, and river conditions it was November 2006, before the Hydro Project was once again supplying the electricity for Stockport Mill and Restaurant.