In Awe of Amazing Lanterman’s Mill

What’s the origin of Lanterman’s Mill? Once upon a time, early settlers relied on grist mills and cotton gins, usually located in the core of a community. 

Water-powered grist mills, for example, were placed next to a swift river and that’s when magic happened. The current turned the water wheel, which turned the heavy stones, which ground the corn into cornmeal or wheat into flour.  

There are opportunities to follow in the footsteps of history and appreciate the legacy of these groundbreaking gems.

The Gruene, Texas, (pronounced “Green”) cotton gin was built in 1878 on the site of an earlier grist mill. Powered by the Guadalupe River, the gin (short for engine), processed huge amounts of cotton grown in the area.  

The gin was destroyed in a 1922 fire, with only part of the three-story brick boiler room remaining. That same boiler room is witness to a new chapter that began on that very spot when the Gristmill River Restaurant opened in 1977. The multi-level restaurant, with cozy decks and native stone fireplaces, celebrates the beauty of the Guadalupe River and is a nod to a bygone era. 

This is the type of historic treasure and rustic beauty Abbie Raines, the heroine in the upcoming “The Unexpected Gift” honors as she faces a challenging personal and professional journey. 

Lanterman’s Mill in Youngstown, Ohio’s majestic Mill Creek Park is a jaw-dropping wonder. It dates to 1799 and was built on land near scenic Lanterman’s Falls, using logs from nearby woods and millstones cut from granite boulders. At one point the mill used three sets of grinding stones. 

The Mill underwent a complex renovation and more than a century after it closed, is hard at work again grinding corn and wheat. Visitors can step into the past and feel the rumbling of history as massive stones do their job of grinding various grains. The onsite gift shop sells stone-ground cornmeal and wholewheat flour products, giving visitors more opportunity to appreciate pioneering ingenuity.

The Gristmill in Texas and Lanterman’s Mill in Ohio, both proud reminders of the grit and determination of our early settlers, are on the National Register of Historic Places.