Millville, New York facts for kids
Millville is a small community called a hamlet. It is located in the town of Shelby, within Orleans County, in New York, United States. It's a quiet place with a rich history.
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Discovering Millville
Millville was first settled in the mid-1810s. It grew because of its many mills. These mills used the strong flow of water from three streams in the area.
Early Life in Millville
In its early days, Millville was a busy place. Before the land was cleared, the streams had lots of water. This water powered many mills.
- Three saw mills helped cut wood.
- A grist mill ground grain into flour.
- A turning mill shaped wood.
By the 1870s, Millville had grown quite a bit. It was home to an academy (a type of school). There were also three churches and several businesses. These included a grocery store and a dry goods store. Other important places were a tannery, a foundry, and a wagon shop. The hamlet also had a school and a post office. About 30 houses made up the community.
The T.O. Castle & Son General Store
One very important building in Millville is the T.O. Castle & Son General Store. It was built around 1849. This store is made of strong, locally found stone. It stands at a key crossroads.
The store was run by Thomas Oliver Castle. He was an important person in the community. The store was the heart of Millville. It provided everything the local farm families needed. It also served the students and staff of the Millville Academy until the 1870s. This building is special because it's one of the few stone commercial buildings left in New York State. It also shows a simple, classic Greek Revival style of architecture.
Millville's Historic Places
Millville has two important places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized for their special history.
Millville Cemetery
In 2007, the Millville Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places. It is a place where many early residents of Millville are buried.
T.O. Castle & Son General Store's Recognition
In December 2022, the T.O. Castle & Son General Store also received this special honor. It was the first building in Millville, New York, to get this important designation. This shows how important the store was to the hamlet's history.
