Nankin Mills Nature Center facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nankin Mills Nature Center |
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| Location | 33175 Ann Arbor Trail, Westland, Michigan |
| Built | 1863 |
| Governing body | State |
| Designated | March 11, 1967 |
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The Nankin Mills Nature Center is a special place in Westland, Michigan. It's a historic building that also teaches people about nature. You can find it at 33175 Ann Arbor Trail. This building started as a grist mill, which is a mill that grinds grain. It was also part of Henry Ford's "village industries" idea. In 1967, it was named a Michigan State Historic Site because of its importance. Today, Nankin Mills is the main office for Wayne County Parks and is located in the middle of Hines Park.
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What is Nankin Mills Like?
The Nankin Mills Nature Center is a building that looks like it's 2 and a half stories tall. It's built in a style called Greek Revival, which was popular a long time ago. The building has a wooden frame and is covered with horizontal wooden boards called clapboard. There's also a porch that runs along the entire front of the building.
The Story of Nankin Mills
Early Days of the Mill
Work on the very first mill at this spot began in 1835. However, the building was not finished until 1842. A new owner completed it and added an "overshot water wheel." This type of wheel uses water flowing over the top to make it spin.
A small community grew up around the mill, and it was called Pike's Peak. Besides the mill, this little town had a blacksmith's shop, a printing shop, a general store, and even a post office.
Rebuilding and New Owners
The original mill sadly burned down during the American Civil War. The building you see today was built in 1863 by Samuel Hardenbergh. Later, in 1887, Hardenbergh sold the mill to Isaac Martin Lewis. Mr. Lewis made an important upgrade: he replaced the old overshot water wheel with a more efficient turbine. A turbine is a machine that uses spinning blades to create power.
Henry Ford's Village Industries
In 1918, the famous car maker Henry Ford bought the mill. He wanted it to be part of his "Village industries" program. Ford's idea was to create small factories in rural areas. This would give farm workers a steady job, especially during the winter when farm work was slow.
Ford changed the mill into a small factory. By 1920, about twelve workers started making screws for Ford's cars there. Nankin Mills was the second "Village Industry" to open, after the Ford Valve Plant in Northville. In 1927, Ford changed what the factory made again. This time, workers created engravings and stencils. Eventually, about 70 people worked at the Nankin Mills factory.
From Factory to Nature Center
However, the "Village Industries" idea didn't make much money. After World War II, the factory closed down. In 1948, Henry Ford gave the site to the Wayne County Road Commission. The commission updated the mill, and in 1956, it opened as a nature center.
In the mid-1980s, Nankin Mills became the main office for the Wayne County Park System. A new part was added to the building in 1999. Then, in 2001, the original mill building reopened as an interpretive center. This means it's a place where visitors can learn about the history of the mill and the nature around it.
