Township trustee Chris Mucher explains the mechanics of the Grinnell Mill to an attentive tour group (photo by Aaron Zaremsky)
The new Grinnell Mill
- Published: November 15, 2010
The Grinnell Mill is bursting with local history, and now residents have the opportunity to take it all in. Chris Mucher kicked off the restored Mill’s inaugural tour last Sunday afternoon. As the tour progressed, it was clear the Mill had been through a lot in its two hundred years in Yellow Springs.
The Moody family built the foundations in 1811, but the mill burnt to the ground shortly thereafter. The next building went up in 1821. The Grinnell family finally bought the mill in 1864, owning it until 1948. Antioch College bought the Mill and incorporated it into the Glen Helen Nature Preserve.
Jim Hammond decided to rebuild the Mill for the sake of historical preservation, and with the help of ample funds and volunteers, brought the Mill to its current state. In previous centuries, the Mill ground up corn and wheat for farmers, powered by the Little Miami River. Now, it is a historic building for the public’s touring pleasure. Anyone who is interested in viewing the Mill should stop by when it is open to the public: Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
One Response to “The new Grinnell Mill”
The Yellow Springs News encourages respectful discussion of this article.
You must login to post a comment.
Don't have a login? Register for a free YSNews.com account.
There are many stories that the Grinnell Mill holds. People who have lived in the Mill (Mark Willis, Gordon Atkinson, Dave Huber) could tell them, the Grinnells themselves and their involvement with Moncure Conway and the African American families that settled here, as well as its sad state before Jim Hammond took it upon himself to “save” the Mill. The Miami Township’s part in leasing the Mill is part of the recent story. We stopped by many times to see the progress. Clearly, for Jim Hammond it was a labor of love.