Mollasses Produced Since 1850's

Sorghum was introduced to this area in the late 1850's. Farmers at first believed it would provide a local supplement for expensive sugar produced in the South, but it never became practical. However, the molasses made from sorghum was of good quality, and through the years this was its primary product. By 1866 molasses production in Defiance County had increased to 53,670 gallons. Production slowly decreased after the 1860's, and by 1905 only 1660 gallons were made in the county. This sorghum mill was in the Zimmerman family for three generations. Wenzel Zimmerman purchased it in 1875, passed it on to his son John, and it was passed on to Andrew in 1944. Paul Myers acquired the mill in 1950 and donated it to Auglaize Village in 1966.

Ohio · United States