Old Mill Museum (Dundee, Michigan) facts for kids
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Old Mill Museum
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Michigan
Location in the United States
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| Location | 242 Toledo Street Dundee, Michigan |
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| Built | 1849 |
| Part of | Dundee Historic District (ID90001239) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Designated CP | August 20, 1990 |
The Old Mill Museum, also known as the Alfred Wilkerson Grist Mill, is a very old and important building. It sits right next to the River Raisin in Dundee, Michigan. This historic spot was named a Michigan Historic Site on August 3, 1979. Later, it became part of the Dundee Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 20, 1990.
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The Old Mill Museum: A Historic Place
The Old Mill Museum is considered the oldest and most famous landmark in Dundee. It is special because it's the only part of the Dundee Historic District located on the other side of the river from the main downtown area. Even though the building itself was built in 1849, the dam it sits on is even older. That dam was first built in 1827 and then rebuilt in 1846. It's the biggest of several dams along the River Raisin.
From Gristmill to Museum: A Changing History
When it was first built, the Old Mill was a gristmill. This means it used the power of the river to grind grain into flour. This was a very important job for the growing town of Dundee.
Later, around 1910, the building changed its purpose. It was turned into a power plant that made electricity from water. This was the only source of electricity for the village at that time.
The Old Mill is the oldest building still standing in Dundee. After many years of not being used, it was almost torn down in 1934.
Henry Ford's Connection
Luckily, Henry Ford, the famous car maker, bought the building. He spent a lot of money to fix it up. This was part of his "village industries" plan. He wanted to see if small towns could help with his big car company.
Ford added a small, one-story section to the side of the original three-story building. He turned the mill into a small factory. This factory made special welding tips for his car industry. Henry Ford often visited Dundee to check on his experiment.
After Henry Ford passed away in 1947, the factory in Dundee didn't get as much support. In 1954, it was sold to the Wolverine Manufacturing Company. They changed the building again, this time to make paper products. The Wolverine Manufacturing Company used the building until 1970.
The Museum Today: Fun and History
In 1970, the Wolverine Manufacturing Company sold the building to the village of Dundee for just $1. The village then worked to fix up the building and the land around it. This area, which is about 13.8 acres (5.6 hectares), was opened to the public.
Today, the Old Mill is a museum and a park. It's a great place to learn about the history of Dundee. Even though it's very old and important, it's not listed on the National Register of Historic Places by itself. It's part of the larger historic district.
The museum also offers fun and unique experiences. They have ghost tours and even paranormal investigations. Every year, the Old Mill Museum hosts an event called the Old Mill ParaFest.
