One Old Mill

Clifton Mill is famous for its Christmas lights. Living down the road, I remember the traffic jams with cars lined up down every street, making it near impossible to get home. People come from out of town and even out of state to see the iconic scene, and to them it is just a tourist attraction that they came to see for a moment. Clifton Mill means something far different to the locals and is part of the town’s history.

Owen Davis built a grist mill alongside the Little Miami River the year before Ohio became a state. Several more mills emerged, and soon the village of Davis Mills reveled in prosperity. By the 1810s, Robert Patterson bought the grist mill from Davis and gave the village a new name, Cliff Town, possibly after the cliffs from the gorge. He transformed the village into a town where it grew exponentially with an increase in shops, churches, and artisans. Clifton provided support at times of war. Patterson’s woolen mill produced materials for soldiers during the War of 1812, and then fifty years later, Clifton Mill supplied cornmeal and flour to troops fighting in the Civil War. The grist mill burnt down twice and in 1869 the Armstrong Family built the building that stands today. Clifton Mill passed through the ownership of many more families and is the only mill left standing in town.

The mill is preserved and is still in operation today. The building includes a restaurant and a country store filled with antiques, while the landscape features a covered bridge and 1940s gas station. After Thanksgiving the mill is illuminated, and people come in droves to see the spectacle. Clifton Mill jump started the town and continues to be an important part of Clifton’s history. This building is special because of its past and present day contributions to the community.

By Julie Hale

Sources:

“Clifton Mill.” Accessed November 11, 2017. http://cliftonmill.com.

Krekeler, Brenda. “Clifton Mill.” Old Mills on the United States. Accessed November 11, 2017.
       http://www.oldmills.scificincinnati.com/ohio_mills_greene_clifton_page.html.

Village of Clifton. Accessed November 11, 2017. http://www.villageofclifton.com/.

Photos: “The Legendary Lights of Clifton Mill.” Clifton Mill. Accessed November 17, 2017.
       http://cliftonmill.com/christmas.htm.

Attoun, Marti. “Preserving Historic Gristmills.” American Profile. August 18, 2011.
       http://americanprofile.com/articles/preserving-historic-gristmills-video/.