Northwest Indiana has been around for a long time. Many towns and cities have existed since its inception, but there is one that I want to focus on today: Merrillville. This town is in Lake County, Indiana, and it has a deep and interesting history. One piece of its history is the John Wood Old Mill, which is also called Wood’s Mill and John Wood Mill (along with other names) (5). The Old Mill is the topic for this issue of Exploring the Region, however, I wanted to give a brief background of Merrillville, Indiana, where the historic landmark sits.
The history of Merrillville, Indiana
Around the 1830s, Potawatomi and Miami Indians frequently visited the land that is now Merrillville (4). They called it “McGwinn’s Village” and held informal gatherings of different tribes in the area. In 1835, American pioneers traveled further west into Northwest Indiana and soon changed the name of the area to Centerville, since its location at the time was in the center of the county. Then, in 1848, the post office changed the name again. This time, the name stuck: Merrillville. The town received its name from Dudley and William Merrill, who must have made an impact on the community. I did not find much information on the two, but it’s clear they left their mark. Finally, in 1971, Merrillville was incorporated and has been a big part of “the region” ever since. See? I told you it would be brief!
Now, join me as we step back in time to discover the story of the mill that helped shape a community. Let’s discuss the John Wood Old Mill.
History of the John Wood Old Mill
In the year 1800, in Peabody, Massachusetts, John Wood was born (1). He was the youngest of eleven children (7). His childhood is interesting. It is stated by the Walnut Grove Historical Society that John Wood “grew up in one of the former focal points of Revolutionary War era protests and battles as the burgeoning republic was being created and expanding beyond the thirteen original colonies…”. Along with witnessing the chaos that ensued following the war, young John had to deal with grief, as his father, Moses Wood, passed away. He was then raised by family friends and continued to grow and learn in all kinds of trades.
Another interesting tidbit about John Wood’s early life occurred around the year 1812. Although it is not exactly known where the young boy was during this time, we do know he was living near the city of Boston, and, because of this, it’s reasonable to conclude the 12-year-old John Wood lived through the War of 1812 and the British invasion of Washington, D.C.(7). As he grew older and life went on, John Wood eventually married in 1824. They lived in Massachusetts for a long while. Then, eleven years after he married, he journeyed westward across the Great Lakes to pursue a future as a miller (1).
In 1835, John Wood discovered a stream of water that was both deep and wide in Northwest Indiana (1). To claim this land, he built a log cabin and then left to visit LaPorte, Indiana, so he could “enter his claim to the parcel valued at $200 or $1.25 per acre”, per Lake County Parks. Once the land was officially his, Wood traveled back to Massachusetts to pack up his family and bring them to the great state of Indiana. In 1837, he realized he needed somewhere to stock the lumber he was going to use to build the mill. So, John Wood built a sash frame sawmill. I did not take any pictures of the sawmill, but you can find a few through this cool website (not owned by me and I am not affiliated) called Millpictures.com. This site also has a brief history of the Mill!
In 1838, John Wood’s dream came true. He built Wood’s Mill, and it became the “first continuing industry in Lake and Porter counties in northwest Indiana” (1). After its construction, Wood dammed Deep River and assembled a sluiceway system to power the sawmill and gristmill. For twenty-five years, business thrived for the Wood family, as they turned local corn, wheat, rye, and buckwheat into hearty flour and meal. In 1856, the fifty-six-year-old John Wood sold his beloved mill to Nathan and George Wood, his two sons. Four years after the purchase, Nathan bought out his brother and ran the mill on his own. Then, sixteen years later, he changed the wooden mill by creating a three-story brick flour mill that “still stands today where John Wood first envisioned his business” (1). During its most productive years, Woods Mill turned out twelve bushels of flour per hour. Throughout this time, Nathan even had his own brand of patent flour, called ACME, and it was very well known throughout the region.
As time passed by and Nathan grew older, he followed in his father’s footsteps and sold the mill in 1908 (1). Since then, there have been numerous owners. When the 1930s came around, Wood’s Mill was “abandoned and forgotten,” as the Lake County Parks say. At the beginning of the 1970s, the mill (thankfully) was discovered by the Lake County Parks and Recreation Department. As you can imagine, it was not in great shape. So, in October of 1975, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior and was officially recognized as a historic landmark in 1976. Wood’s Mill opened (or reopened, I should say) for public access in 1977.
Architecture of John Wood Old Mill
The John Wood Old Mill is a large structure. I never realized how large until I went to take some pictures of it. I found myself constantly backing up so I could fit the whole building in the frame! The two-and-a-half-story rectangular building consists of brick and features a “gambrel roof with overhanging eaves”, per Abuseguardian.com. One interesting personal note: Lea and I took our engagement pictures there many years ago. We have one standing in front of the side door of the mill. Back then, I had no idea what this place was! You can see the picture below.
Community Significance & Visiting the John Wood Old Mill
The mill has a long history in Merrillville and is a very important part of the town’s story. The area on which it stands operated as a hub for farmers and people throughout time. Today, the mill has multiple purposes. It can be used as an educational site for school field trips, as well as hosting events throughout the year. For example, Southshorecva.com has a list of events happening in the area all year round. One event listed on their site currently is Christmas at the Mill. Currently, the mill is used from May through October to grind corn meal by using the large mill stones (8). There is also the Deep River Visitor Center, which is next door to the mill.
The visitor center is housed in what remains of a church from 1904. It’s a really cool place and I am happy I was able to visit. As the site says, the visitor center offers a variety of specialty items and handmade crafts. They even produce their own pure maple syrup at Deep River. I bought a bottle myself!
If you want to plan a fun day, visit the Lake County Parks website. From there, you can see all the events happening and the dates and times.
Conclusion
The John Wood Old Mill stands as a cherished link to Merrillville’s past. It’s a beautiful place to visit, especially in the spring and fall seasons. When you’re there, if you sit peacefully and observe everything around you, it feels like you’re going back in time. You can feel the history surrounding this place, and all the people who lived and worked there. It’s a beautiful, historical place to visit, and I hope you give it a chance. If you do plan your visit to Deep River County Park, you will be witness to the mill’s timeless charm. You will also be supporting its preservation (which is wonderful!). If you’ve been there, share your story in the comments and tell me what you love most about it!
I hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of Exploring the Region. Please share and subscribe!
Peter
Citations:
- https://lakecountyparks.com/DocumentCenter/View/126/Woods-Historic-Grist-Mill-Brochure-PDF?bidId=
- https://millpictures.com/mills.php?millid=1329
- http://genealogytrails.com/ind/lake/EarlySettlersofLakeCountyIndiana.html
- http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/815.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wood_Old_Mill
- https://abuseguardian.com/brief-history-of-merrillville-in/#:~:text=John%20Wood%20Old%20Mill%20is,was%20listed%20on%20the%20NRHP.
- https://walnutgrovehistory.org/early-lake-county/
- https://www.southshorecva.com/listing/deep-river-county-park-%26-woods-historic-grist-mill/147/#:~:text=Unique%20to%20the%20park%20is,Presented%20By:%20Lake%20County%20Parks
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