Ortonville Mill

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.

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.