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 In 1819, the first
builders, James Kelsey and Francis Dickson, laid the foundation of this mill
on the sandstone bedrock beside Raccoon Creek. The original mill, a noe-story
log building measuring 30 square feet, used stones from a nearby farm to
grind flour and cornmeal. A sawmill using a sash saw was later added to the
north side of the mill. The roller mill, stores and cabins formed the village
of Dickson's Mills. As the town developed into a commercial center, its name
changed to New Dublin and later to Mansfield.
Jacob Rohm, a veteran in the milling business, purchased the grist mill in 1875. Five years later, Rohm built a new dam and two stories on the original foundation. For power, two water turbines were installed and are still located under the building. The third story and monitor were added in 1893 to accommodate the full roller process. Roller milling, still used by modern mills, produced high-quality white flour and corn meal. Mansfield flour and meal were produced in large quantities and distributed as far as Cincinnati under the brand names of Victory Flour and Domino. In full operation the mil employed only three people. In 1929, the Mansfield Roller Mill could not compete with larger flour mills; therefore, it was converted into a local feed mill. From 1833 to 1867, the Len and Harry Reeves family operated the mill, leaving the original building and machinery largely intact. Other owners since the Reeves family helped to preserve the mill, while also constructing the deck and water wheel (which has never supplied power to the mill). Owners Jack and Shirley Dalton and Frank and Sharon Hutcheson acquired listing of the mill on the National Register of Historic Places on December 7, 1990. They donated the mill in 1995 to the Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Museums and Historic Sites. The mill is closed October 20 through later March. |
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| The above information was taken from a handout given to visitors of the Mansfield Roller Mill State Historic Site. Their phone number is (765) 344-0741. |
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