The Grist Mill

With land purchased from Stephan Warren, Christian Hershey built a grist mill in 1848 to cater to local wheat farmers. The mill was erected just east of Cottonwood Avenue about 300 feet north of the railroad tracks. The mill stood four and one-half stories high, had an eight and one-half foot deep basement and a founation measuring 40 x 60 feet.

A dam, which was constructed across the Bark River on Main Street (now East Capitol Drive), provided water power for the mill. A millrace or channel was dug that ran parallel to and a few feet east of Cottonwood Avenue. The mill pond formed by the dam was located just north of East Capitol Drive. It covered about 14 acres and backed up the river for about a mile. A tree stump located in the middle of the mill pond measured the depth of the water. When the stump disappeared under the water, it was time to release the water.

The property changed hands frequently during the next 40 years. Henry Van Buren purchased the property in 1891 and successfully conducted business until the mill was destroyed by fire in 1898.

If you have any historic pictures (preferably pre-WWII) that you would like to share with the Hartland Historical Society,

please let us know by emailing us at:hartlandhistory@wi.rr.com.


			Drawing by Sarabelle Van Buren





		The Grist Mill With land purchased from Stephan Warren, Christian Hershey built a grist mill in 1848 to cater to local wheat farmers. The mill was erected just east of Cottonwood Avenue about 300 feet north of the railroad tracks. The mill stood four and one-half stories high, had an eight and one-half foot deep basement and a founation measuring 40 x 60 feet. A dam, which was constructed across the Bark River on Main Street (now East Capitol Drive), provided water power for the mill. A millrace or channel was dug that ran parallel to and a few feet east of Cottonwood Avenue. The mill pond formed by the dam was located just north of East Capitol Drive. It covered about 14 acres and backed up the river for about a mile. A tree stump located in the middle of the mill pond measured the depth of the water. When the stump disappeared under the water, it was time to release the water. The property changed hands frequently during the next 40 years. Henry Van Buren purchased the property in 1891 and successfully conducted business until the mill was destroyed by fire in 1898. If you have any historic pictures (preferably pre-WWII) that you would like to share with the Hartland Historical Society, please let us know by emailing us at:hartlandhistory@wi.rr.com.