Mill at Spring Mill
Owners of the Mill from 1817 to 1823
The Bullitt brothers commissioned the building of the mill in 1816 to Uriah Glover, Jr. It was completed in 1817.
The Bullitts were important figures in the early history of the area, not just for Spring Mill. Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt came from a well known wealthy family in Louisville. There are several documents about this important family in the early history of the settlement of Louisville and southern Indiana. They were speculators who purchased land in many areas of the new state of Indiana including the mill at Spring Mill. The two brothers are credited with commissioning the constructing the original Upper and Lower Residences in the Village after purchasing the mill. Both brothers lived in Louisville but stayed in the homes during their visits to the area. Some of the most interesting documents are highlighted here. The Bullitts decided to sell the mill due to declining health.
Cuthbert and Thomas Bullitt - article on their holdings in southern IN including Spring Mill.
William and Joseph Montgomery received an original land office grant from President James Monroe in 1823 for land in the Spring Mill area. Montgomery and Son Merchants were wealthy men from Philadelphia. For something over $20,000 the Montgomery’s purchased the mill, the entire Village, and 1,440 acres of land. The Village continued to grow while the Montgomerys owned the land. They added a tavern, a distillery and a sawmill. The village also became a stagecoach stop.
Land Grant from President James Monroe (there is a second land grant in the documents for another tract)
Presidential Seal of property sale from the Bullitts to the Montgomerys.
Industrialized Once - Article from the Bedford Daily Times Mail 7/3/1968
Hugh and Thomas Hamer later bought the properties including the Grist Mill and sawmill from the Montgomerys after the death of William. The Hamers owned the mill from 1831 to 1872. They also purchased 160 acres. During their ownership the village reached the peak of its commerce and growth. The distillery which had started and then closed during Montgomery’s time was reopened. People came to the village and stayed a few days while their corn was ground. It brought prosperity to all. Hamer also hauled immense quantities of products to Louisville then opened a boatyard on the White River and built flatboats, loading them with products and sending things south to New Orleans to sell.
In the 1870s, a decline began due to the growth of the railroad, steam power, and the drop in southern trade due to Reconstruction. Then Hugh Hamer died in 1872. Jonathan Turley acquired the property and briefly tried to revive the grist mill.
News articles and documents trace the history of the Spring Mill grist mill over time.
Soldiers visited the mill from Billings General Hospital in 1940.
Joliet Herald News article encouraging visitors to come to Spring Mill Park on 8/22/1966
South Bend Tribune touts visit to Spring Mill with shuttle bus service around park - 9/7/1980
Travel through time at Spring Mill SP - Herald Times article 5/28/1996
Pictures of the mill. On a pdf.
History of Mill Wheel - This is a wonderful article on the history of the mill and its demise as a working mill and being sold to Lehigh after Jonathan Turley’s death in 1896. This was followed by three decades of neglect and abandonment before Richard Lieber, E. Y. Guernsey and others saved the area for a state park and were able to get restoration started. The Grist Mill has a 506’ flume, its walls are 3’ thick, and the wheel has the potential to generate 27 horsepower when operating.
History of Lawrence County - Goodspeed Bros, 1884 - excellent overview of Lawrence County history as it pertains to the area of Spring Mill and the early grist mills in the county.
Excerpt from History of Lawrence County (very similar to the one above) by Turner Publishing Co. 1990
Water-powered Mills Operated in Six of Indiana’s State Parks - Outdoor Indiana article -July 1986 - features a story about the grist mill and sawmill built at Spring Mill by Timothy Hixon that operated from 1846-1875 in the area that is now where the lake is. It was operated by a 9’ overshot water wheel.
Water Wheel and Mill Machinery at Spring Mill Authentic Reproductions - Outdoor Indiana 2/1/1935 - explains the care taken to authentically restore the wheel, gears, and gristmill to it’s original way it would have been.
Vintage folders illustrated with the Grist Mill and information about Spring Mill State Park
Grist Mill turns 200 - Times Mail article 5/7/2017
The Story of the Spring Mill Water Wheel by Denzil Doggett - interesting essay on how the water wheel was constructed and how it works.
Back to the Grind- story on sharpening the buhrs on the stones at the grist mill.
Picture of Mill and Flume - Indianapolis News 4/30/1976
Village Task Force Project- Plans for the Mill exhibits
Restored Water-powered Sawmill - Outdoor Indiana
Early records of the Mill - this document includes details on how they were able to reconstruct the Mill authentically.
The American Miller and Millwright Assistant - a book on information of interest to millers and millwrights
Article on Millstone Dress - the design on the millstone face
Hewing the hub of the wheel for the mill - Mitchell Tribune, 9/24/1930
Mill Wheel Ready to Turn - Mitchell Tribune - 10/15/1931
Diagram Count of Cogs and Spokes
23 Years of Grinding Corn too Much; Old Mill Wheel being Reconstructed - Louisville Times article 8/4 1934?
LaRue Stout - Reconstruction of the Waterwheel - 9/29/1972
Below are some, not all, of the papers specifically about the mill and its owners from the Spring Mill archives. As more are scanned they will be added to this site for all to see and enjoy. The papers related to the three families who owned the mill are included on this page those some are located in other files. Also included is information on the Mill itself.
Owners of the Mill from 1823 to 1831