Mills of Plain Township

When early settlers moved to the Ohio frontier in the early 1800s, mature trees dominated the landscape. As the region grew, water-powered mills were built to meet demand for building materials cut from nearby forests. Over time, log homes on small family farms gave way to wood-frame houses and barns made with milled lumber, including ash boards for flooring, oak beams for structure, and walnut for trim, cupboards, and doors. Along Rocky Fork Creek in the mid-1800s, mills were a common sight, and at their peak they produced 2,000 to 3,000 board feet every 24 hours. Local resident Dr. Isaac Newton Smith wrote that Plain Township made wonderful progress during this period, while there was ceaseless war on the woods because the land had to be cleared to raise grain. Today, oak, walnut, maple, beech, and other tree varieties grow in the park because of conservation efforts by Metro Parks.

Ohio · United States