Bear's Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Bear's Mill
|
|
Front of the mill
|
|
 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 6450 Arcanum-Bear's Mill Rd. |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Greenville, Ohio |
| Area | 6 acres (2.4 ha) |
| Built | 1849 |
| Architect | William Moses; Manning Hart |
| NRHP reference No. | 75001372 |
| Added to NRHP | June 10, 1975 |
Bear's Mill is a super old and interesting building located near Greenville in Darke County, Ohio. It's a special kind of mill called a gristmill. This mill was built way back in 1849. It's the oldest industrial building still standing in Darke County!
A gristmill is a place where grains like wheat or corn are ground into flour or meal. Bear's Mill uses the power of water to turn its grinding stones. This makes it a watermill.
Contents
Bear's Mill: A Historic Water-Powered Mill
Bear's Mill sits right next to Greenville Creek. It's located in southwestern Adams Township. You can find it about halfway between Greenville and the small village of Gettysburg.
How Bear's Mill Was Built
The mill was started by a local builder named Manning Hart. He began construction in 1849. Before it was even finished, a man named Gabriel Bear bought it. Gabriel Bear was from Pennsylvania. He completed the mill and opened it for business in 1849.
The mill building is made of wood. It has a strong stone foundation, which is the sturdy base that supports the whole building. The roof is made of metal.
The Special Millstones
When Bear's Mill first opened, Gabriel Bear used grinding stones that were made locally. But these stones didn't work very well. They weren't good enough to grind the grain properly.
So, Gabriel Bear traveled all the way to France! There, he bought new grinding stones. These stones were known all over the world for being the very best quality. These special stones helped the mill work much better.
Bear's Mill Today
Bear's Mill was used continuously for over 100 years! It kept grinding grain for a very long time. In the late 1970s, the miller (the person who runs the mill) decided to work less. Even then, the mill kept going.
Today, Bear's Mill is still in use. It works partly as a milling museum. This means you can visit and learn all about how mills work and what life was like back then. It also still works partly as a gristmill, grinding some grain.
In 1975, Bear's Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical buildings in the United States. It was recognized because of its unique architecture and its importance in Ohio's history.
Now, a group called the "Friends of Bear's Mill" takes care of it. This group is a non-profit organization. They work hard to keep the mill running and preserve it as an important historical landmark for everyone to enjoy.
