Franklin Cider Mill facts for kids
The Franklin Cider Mill is a famous place in Franklin, Michigan, where they make delicious apple cider. It used to be called the Franklin Grist Mill.
Today, the family of its former owner, Jacob Peltz, still runs the mill. You can find many tasty treats there, like fresh apple cider, yummy spice donuts, caramel apples, and warm apple pies.
A Look Back: The Mill's History
The Franklin Grist Mill was finished in 1837. It took three years to build! A man named W. Matthews started building it in 1832. He bought a large piece of land near where the mill is now.
However, Matthews ran into money problems. He couldn't finish the project. So, Peter VanEvery bought the land and completed the building. He opened it as a gristmill by the Franklin River. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour.
Over the years, the mill had several different owners. In 1914, James T. Flynn bought the mill. He added the first machine that used water power to press apples. This was a big step towards making cider!
Around the early 1900s, the Franklin Grist Mill was flooded. It had to close down for a while. Then, in 1918, Robert McKee bought the property. He decided that the cider-making season would run from August 15th to January 1st each year.
In the 1960s, Jacob Peltz bought the mill. He ran it for nearly 35 years. He passed away in 2004, but his family continues to operate this historic mill today.
