SMITH & bRITTS Mill
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Primrose Township
Image shows the remains of the grist mill after the 1887 fire; MHAHS 4x6.1991
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Britt Valley Rd.
1861 Plat Map
1873 Plat Map
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Operated: 1858 - 1887
Edward Britts and Charles Smith built a grist mill in the summer of 1858 along the West Branch of the Sugar River in the NW1/4 of Sect. 8. This mill was about 5 miles southwest of the Mt. Vernon Mill that had been built by Philander Byam in 1852.
From "The Story of Primrose 1831-1895" by Albert O. Barton
"In the summer of this year [1858] was built the Britts' Mill (section 8), by Ed. Britts and Charles Smith. It was built of stone, provided with ponderous wooden wheels, and was a popular resort in its day. In the early eighties the wooden wheels were replaced with a turbine water wheel and improved machinery by C. W. Karn. One night in September, 1887, while in possession of Nick Hentgen, the mill was burnt to the ground, doubtless by incendiarism. The walls still stand but no attempt has been made to rebuild it." In December of 1887, after the Smith & Britts' fire earlier in the year, Nick Hentgen became the miller at the Mt. Vernon Mill. Timeline: 1852 Philander Byam builds Mt. Vernon Mill 1858 Smith and Britts build their mill with Nick Hentgen as miller Sept. 1887 Smith and Britts Mill burns Dec. 1887 Nick Hentgen becomes miller in Mt. Vernon 1897 Mt. Vernon Mill is sold to William Koch and sons |
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