Clark County
The Mill Inn
The mill is now used as a restaurant. It is an unattractive building and no longer resembles a mill. This is definitely NOT worth a trip.
DIRECTIONS: Bethel Township. On U.S. 40, 1.2 miles west of Springfield. Rocky Run Creek.
Columbiana County
Speirs Windmill
Speirs Windmill is essentially a large lawn ornament. It was not built to function as a windmill but just for decoration. It is however a pretty piece. The foundation is multi-colored brick. The first and second level are covered with shake shingles, and the top of the structure has a four pronged mast without any accommodations for sails. There is an entrance door on the first level that faces opposite the roadway.
DIRECTIONS: Franklin Township. On S.R. 644 in Summittville.
Coshocton County
Warsaw Mills
Sunday, March 10, 1991, I visited Warsaw Mills. I was so excited to be back in Coshocton County. It's such a pretty county with its swollen streams, and countryside. I was having difficulty locating the mill so I stopped at a local carry out to request directions. The clerk handed me a newspaper and pointed to one of the front page headlines, "Warsaw's Mill Gone." I had missed it by one day! I rounded the block only to find the historical old building in a heap of splinters. I was sooo disappointed. It is always sad to lose one of our few remaining historical buildings.
DIRECTIONS: Coshocton County. Was in Warsaw.
Franklin County
Cleveland Mill
The Cleveland Mill was originally located in Monroe County, Ohio, and was dismantled and relocated to the historical park at the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus. Unfortunately, the structure of the mill was not preserved very well because while it was in storage it decayed and it was discarded.
Hamilton County
Flick's Homelike Inn/Sawmill Site and Miamitown Mill Site
The Great Miami River Valley was once a thriving mill valley with over 13 mill sites within 10 miles north of Miamitown. There are only two remnants of those days as a result of the 1913 Flood. The flood decimated all of the existing mills in the valley. The only remnant of the old mill in New Baltimore is the mill's old office building that is presently being used as part of Flick's Homelike Inn.
The other remnant is the Miamitown Church of Christ. When the Miamitown Mill was destroyed in the 1913 flood, the stone dam was used to build the present church building.
DIRECTIONS: Hamilton County. New Burlington and Miamitown.
Highland County
Barrett's Mills
Barrett's Mills included a sawmill, gristmill, carding mill, fulling mill and woolen mill. As of 1972 the gristmill, covered bridge, sawmill, woolen mill, and Barrett House existed and were placed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today only the Barrett house remains intact. The fate of the mill and covered bridge are unknown. The site, although only remnants of a past active milling location, is still exciting. The milldam is about 10 feet tall and is still in excellent condition. The cut stone abutments of the covered bridge still provide a beautiful site. The only remnant of Barrett's Gristmill is the foundation. Located at the dam, the foundation is partially cut stone and partially concrete. It appears that the one corner of the 1860 building had to be replaced in the early 1900's. Originally powered with a wooden waterwheel, it was converted to turbine-power. Roller mills were installed and the mill ground 24 barrels of flour a day. Its storage capacity was 4,000 bushels. The gristmill operated until 1957. Originally, the mill was a 2 1/2 story frame structure.
DIRECTIONS: From S.R. 50 in Rainsboro, south on Barrett Mill Road, 2 miles on left at bridge, Paint Creek.
Licking County
Martin Shaub Mill Site
This mill site was established in 1817. Today, the Martin Shaub House is preserved. It was built in 1852 and emulates the German settlements of Pennsylvania where Shaub was born. There is no evidence of the mill. The mill was destroyed by fire in the 1960's. Part of the sawmill is now incorporated into a horse barn.
DIRECTIONS: 8259 Duncan Plains Road, Alexandria, Raccoon Creek.
Licking County
Hilleary Gristmill
Hilleary Gristmill no longer exists
Licking County
West Side Planing Mill
West Side Planing Mill is a complete woodworking shop with belt driven machinery. The shop was set up in 1921. As of 1981 the shop functioned much as it did in 1921.
I tried to find this building but gave up after searching for over an hour. Located on the west side of Newark, in the center of a residential block, I was unable to find the address, 197 Maholm.
Medina County
Kirby Mill
I tried on two separate occasions to visit the mill, but was unsuccessful. It is located within the boundaries of a Girl Scout Camp. I had made the trip from Cincinnati to the area in northeast Ohio and stopped at the guard's house. I requested to see the mill and he said in no uncertain terms that I must have WRITTEN permission from the Girl Scout Council in Cleveland. There was no question that I was not welcomed. I politely left, saying thank you, and that I would contact the Council.
Upon contacting the Girl Scout Council I was again greeted with such hostility I concluded that although they, being the "Cleveland Girl Scout Council" say that their mill is open to the public, but in reality, they make a visit to the old mill impossible by being very rude! Discouraging mill visitors by being rude and unaccommodating is not satisfactory behavior for a public organizations such as the Girl Scouts. If they don't want the public to see the mill they shouldn't indicate that it is open to the public. They should just tell the public that it is a privately owned historical structure on the National Register of Historic Places that is not open to the public.
DIRECTIONS: Medina County. 2 miles west of Richfield on S.R. 303, at Julia Crowell Girl Scout Camp, Rocky River.
Miami County
Wagon Wheel Mill
This old mill is now being used as an antique shop. The building hasn't received a hint of restoration let alone any maintenance. The roof is in sad shape and the brick exterior is crumbling. Windows are boarded up and in general the old building is decrepit. Don't waste your time to see this shamble.
DIRECTIONS: South edge of West Milton on S.R. 48 on Stillwater River.
Morgan County
Abel Mill
Originally located on Wolf Creek, the building was moved 50 yards up away from the stream to prevent flooding. The mill was built around 1830 and was purchased by Sauder in the 1850's. While it was on the river it was water-powered. Once it was moved away from the flooding waters, a gasoline engine was installed. It is in a ruin condition but still stands as a 2 1/2 story frame without a roof. (Hart, Ruth)
DIRECTIONS: Penn Township. From Stockport, northeast on S.R. 266, 4 miles to Pennsville, left (west) on C.R. 13, 1.5 miles on Wolf Creek.
Portage County
Cleveland Worsted Mills Redfern Mill
This is an industrial complex consisting of two mill buildings. One is a 4 story and the other a 3 story. Both of the buildings are brick and were built in 1878.
DIRECTIONS: In Ravenna on South Chestnut Street.
Richland County
Greenwood Mill Ruins
Some sources indicate that some foundation remnants remain. Other sources indicate that there are no remnants.
DIRECTIONS: From Bellville, east on S.R. 97 to Gatton Road, to Durbin Road, across bridge to Greenwood Mill Farm.
Shelby County
Ft. Loramie Mills
Built in 1858 by Bernard Meyer and the Reddy Brothers and was operated as a flour mill. After numerous owners, Anthony Ernst and John A. Siegel bought the mill and converted it into a feed mill, adding grinders, mixers, and shelling equipment. Around 1951 silos were built on the mill site to accommodate 14,000 bushels of oats. After several other owners, John M. and Kathy Grisez Siegel bought the mill in 1979 and continue to operate it today.
Ft. Loramie Mills is the oldest structure in Ft. Loramie. It is a 2 1/5-story frame building constructed with walnut and oak beams.
DIRECTIONS: McLean Township. In Ft. Loramie.
Stark County
Star Mill
The main mill building is a 2 1/2-frame structure. There are numerous additions to the old mill that makes it appear junky. It presently operates as a feed mill. Don't go out of your way.
DIRECTIONS: Nimishillen Township. In Louisville, .5 mile north of S.R. 153 on S.R. 44, near railroad tracks.
Summit County
The Indian Mill
This structure appears to be a reconstruction of an old mill. It was closed at the time of my visit but the modern building exhibits a 16 foot (non-functioning?) waterwheel. There are also some millstones lying around the area. I could not identify any water source.
DIRECTIONS: Vicinity of Penisula, on S.R. 8 at Wyoga Road, at Tamsin Park entrance.
Summit County
Quaker Oats Mills
Quaker Oats Mill was reconstructed into the Akron Hilton Inn. The 36 silos that once housed over 1,500,000 bushels of grain are now hotel rooms. Each silo is 120 feet tall and 24 feet in diameter. One of the silos is used as an elevator shaft for the hotel.
DIRECTIONS: In Akron, at 135 S. Broadway.
Summitt County
Yellow Creek Mill
This mill site was established in 1830 by Mr. Hopkins who built a three-story gristmill and flourmill. It was subsequently bought by Mr. Heller. In 1880 the mill was purchased by the Harshey family. The mill was powered by water from Yellow Creek. A steam engine was added as a supplemental power source in the late 1800's because in the summer the water level was not able to provide a sufficient head. The mill was sold to Sterling Alderfer in the 1930's and the structure was destroyed by fire in 1940. The building was replaced by Alderfer with a manufacturing plant that produced polyurethane (foam rubber) until the middle 1980's. Electricity for the plant was generated by a steel waterwheel. The existing building does not hold any real historical significance but the site exhibits the old steel waterwheel and the millrace is identifiable.
The Yellow Creek Mill was one of 13 mills located on Yellow Creek at various times. The Yellow Creek valley once had gristmills, flourmills, sawmills, woolen mills, planing, turning, and bending mills, and hub, and spoke mills. (Students in Senior Social Studies)
DIRECTIONS: Summitt County. Bath Township. West of Ghent, at 3850 Granger Road.
Summitt County
Jaite Paper Mill
Built in 1906, the paper mill last functioned as a recycled paper plant until 1980. Presently, it has been closed and abandoned. The old buildings have had extensive renovation and additions. The paper mill itself is a disappointment. It is a large factory that no longer resembles the original structure. The Jaite Mill Historic District is however fascinating. The district include six worker's houses, a building that served as the post office and general store and there are three railroad service buildings. Two of the worker's houses are identical. This is one of the few places left in the United States today that exhibits the old characteristics of a company town.
If you visit Jaite Mill Historic District, I wouldn't invest the time in walking around the deteriorated modernized paper mill, but don't miss the other aspects of the company town. Evidence of a canal is along the road just before you reach to mill. Water still lies in the ditch and the towpath is easily identifiable.
DIRECTIONS: Summit County. Northfield Township. Access to the mill is best accomplished from Brecksville in Cuyahoga County, located in the corner notch close to the Cuyahoga River. From Brecksville, east on S.R. 82, south on Riverview Road, left on Highland Road at the park headquarters, 1/2 mile, cross the Cuyahoga River, right at drive, park and walk 1/2 mile.