Ortonville Mill

National Register

National Register of Historic Places Filing

Local SignificanceArchitectureCommerce19th Century-20th Century

Amos Orton was born on June 7, 1809, in Hadley Falls, New York. About 1848 he settled on Kearsley Creek, Oakland County, Michigan, and established a sawmill to cut the white pine found in the vicinity. In 1852 he built a feed mill just above the sawmill making the location even more attractive to prospective settlers; this was replaced four years later by the present structure. A small community named after the founder grew up around this nucleus, with Orton serving as the first postmaster and several times as township supervisor and justice of the peace. Not only a miller, Orton was a blacksmith and kept a general store. About 1860 he gave up the mill but it continued to prosper, almost to the present, under a variety of owners. In 1889 the mill was converted to the roller process; at that time it was reported that flour was made for the market, as well as custom work. During the 1920s one owner of the mill also generated electric power for the community. The mill is now owned by the Ortonville Community Historical Society who use it as a museum and gathering place for residents of the village.

Physical Description

The Ortonville Mill is a two and one-half story Greek Revival building with hand-hewn timber frame and unpaved basement. Although it now measures 36 feet by 108 feet the mill was originally only 48 feet long; the large room on the west end was added at a later date. Most of the original windows are sliding sash, 9 over 6. A roofed loading dock lines the Mill Street side of the building.

Architect/Builder

Amos Orton

NRHP Ref# 71000416 • Data from National Park Service • Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0

Historic Photos

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Sourced from the National Register of Historic Places filing

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Public Domain (Michigan Filing)

From Wikipedia

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The Ortonville Mill is a former gristmill located at 366 Mill Street in Ortonville, Michigan. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The Ortonville Community Historical Society now operates the mill as a museum of local history.

History

Amos Orton was born in 1809 in Hadley, New York. In about 1848 he arrived in Oakland County, Michigan and constructed a sawmill very near this location. In 1852, he constructed a gristmill nearby to make the location more attractive to potential settlers. In 1856, he replaced the gristmill with the current structure. The small community of Ortonville grew up around the milling center, with Amos Orton working as the miller, blacksmith, and keeping a general store. Orton gave up his mill in 1860, but it continued to thrive under a variety of owners well into the twentieth century. In 1889, the mill was converted to the roller process, and for a time during the 1920s also generated electric power for the community. The mill continued in use until 1960 In 1968, Emiline and Jack Hamilton donated the Mill to the Ortonville Community Historical Society for use as a museum of local history. The Society now owns and maintains the mill as a museum and gathering place.

Description The Ortonville Mill is a 2-1/2 story Greek Revival structure, made with a hand-hewn timber frame and sitting on an unpaved basement. The original section of the mill measures 36 feet by 48 feet; at some early point a large room was added on bringing the total length to 108 feet. Most of the original windows are nine over six sliding sash units. A roofed loading dock has been added to one side of the building.

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Oakland County, Michigan

References

External links Ortonville Community Historical Society

Content available under CC BY-SA 4.0

Building Details

Architect: Amos Orton
Address: 366 Mill St., Ortonville
National Register: Listed; Ref# 71000416

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