Chidester Woolen Mill

History of Chidester Woolen Mill by Brenda Krekeler

Samuel Chidester and his brothers settled in Rogues' Hollow in 1828. The Chidester brothers built a log cabin and then built a sawmill. Wood produced from the sawmill was used to built the woolen mill. Samuel Chidester had learned the woolen business in Wooster where he worked for the Stibbs Woolen Mill for 8 years. The Chidester brothers constructed a dam on Silver Creek, a millpond and millrace.

The woolen business at Chidester Mill was good during the spring and summer. During the fall and winter Samuel ran his operation as a sawmill to supplement his income. He was a creative entrepreneur. Chidester built an icehouse at the millpond and, in the winter, cut the ice and stored it. He installed a large ice cream freezer and ran it with waterpower. Samuel Chidester then obtained salt from the Wadsworth Salt Company and produced ice cream at the mill.

Today the Chidester Mill is a reproduction of the original mill building. The building houses Rogues' Hollow Historical Society. There is a wooden waterwheel in place but there is no water channeled to it. (Frey)

DIRECTIONS: Wayne County. Chippewa Township. 2 miles southeast of Doylestown in Historic Rogues' Hollow on Rogues Hollow Road.