Champion Mill (Nebraska) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Champion Mill
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Champion Mill building. The milldam is out of frame to the right.
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 Location in Nebraska
Location in the United States
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| Location | Mill and Second Streets, Champion, Nebraska |
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| Area | 3.8 acres (1.5 ha) |
| Built | 1888 |
| NRHP reference No. | 88000913 |
| Added to NRHP | June 23, 1988 |
Champion Mill is a special old building in Champion, Nebraska. This town is in the southwestern part of Nebraska, in the Midwestern United States. The mill was first built in 1888. After a fire, it was rebuilt in 1892.
For many years, the mill made flour and animal feed. It was a busy place until 1968. Today, Champion Mill is a museum and a park. Chase County runs it. It helps us remember the last working water-powered mill in Nebraska. The mill, its water channel (called a headrace), and the dam were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means they are important historical sites.
A Busy Mill in the Past
The town of Hamilton, now called Champion, started in 1886. Many new settlers came to the area then. The town was built in this spot for a good reason. There was a natural three-foot waterfall on the Frenchman Creek. This was a perfect place to build a mill.
A man named Thomas Scott got the land and water rights. He promised to build a mill there. An earthen dam and the mill were built. They started making flour and animal feed in 1889. Sadly, a fire damaged the mill in December 1891. But it was rebuilt and working again just one year later.
Over the years, the mill grew bigger. By 1945, it only made animal feed. Different owners ran the mill until it finally closed in 1968.
From Mill to Museum
In 1969, the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission bought the mill. It became the Champion Mill State Historical Park. It also became a State Recreation Area. People had always enjoyed the mill pond for fun activities. They also used the nearby picnic and camping areas. The old mill building was turned into a museum.
In 1988, the mill complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It was important because it was a great example of mills from the late 1800s and early 1900s. It also showed how important the mill pond was for recreation in southwestern Nebraska. The historic area includes the dam from 1887. It also has the headrace (water channel) and the three-story mill building. The oldest parts of the mill were built in 1892.
In 2013, the ownership of the park changed. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission gave it to Chase County. The site still includes the lake. This lake was made by holding back the water of Frenchman Creek.
