The Minerva Mill

The Minerva Milling Co. was one of the first businesses to start in Minerva, Ohio. The Minerva Mill was built in 1818, but it was not called the Minerva Mill yet. The mill was originally a log grist mill owned by the founder of Minerva, John Whitacre, until it was converted into a fram mill in 1828 and was powered by water.  In 1835, Dr. Levi Haldemen owned the mill. Then in 1860, the Davis Brothers bought the mill. 

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About 60 years later, Aaron Marshall owned it for three years. After his reign, Eli Motts purchased the mill to operate. Later, his brother, John W. Motts came to help Eli run it through the 1900’s. They called it the Pearl Roller Mill. Finally in 1911, the mill was renamed, “The Minerva Milling Co.” and so it was called until it closed in 1975. 

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During the period between 1911 and 1975, the Minerva Mill experienced many owner transferships and conversions. In 1928, a fire destroyed a part of the mill and it was later rebuilt in that year. Until  1930, the mill was water powered, in that year the mill was converted to steam power and later in the 1940’s, it was finally converted to electric power. 

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In 1944, McMillen Feedmill owned the mill for two years. In 1946, B. Eubanks bought it, but they stopped making flour. Then in 1950, the smokestack was torn down and R. Sommers, hailing from Robertsville, owned the mill. Later, Eubanks sold the mill to Howard and Karl Sommers. But after they gave up, the mill was closed in 1975 and was later torn down in 1976. Why? The shoppers using nearby stores needed somewhere to park, so they tore down the mill to make room for a parking lot. 

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In 1988, an unveiling ceremony for a mural of the Minerva Mill by Bruce Fay in the parking lot where the mill had stood took place. Today, you can see a smaller mural of the High St. side of the Haas Museum, painted by local artist Patrick Buckohr. Please enjoy the timeline below!

 

Timeline:

1818: John Whitacre built the log mill with  Dr. O. Emmons as the miller

1828: Whitacre and J. Pool built a fram mill

1835: Dr. Levi Haldemen owned the mill

1860: Davis Brothers bought the mill

1888: Aaron Marshal owned the mill for three years

1891: Eli Motts owned the mill

1895: John W. Motts joined his brother Eli Motts. Through the 1900’s, they called it the Pearl Roller Mill

1911: It was named, “The Minerva Milling Co.” and so it was called until closing in 1975 

1928: A fire destroyed part of the mill

1930: Price and Kiser managed the mill; The mill was converted from water power to steam power

Early 1940’s: The mill was converted to electricity

1944: McMillen Feedmill bought and owned it

1946: B. Eubanks ran it, and they stopped making flour

1950: The smokestack was torn down. R. Sommers of Robertsville owned the mill

1954: Whitacre sold the mill to Howard and Karl Sommers

1975: The mill was closed

1976: They tore down the mill to make a parking lot for shoppers using the stores nearby

1988: An unveiling ceremony for the Mill’s mural took place

 

Location:

E. Line St. and Short St.