Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc. Genealogical & Historical Societies of Washtenaw County Parker Mill
Address Phone		4650 Geddes Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (734) 971-6337 Ann Arbor Parks & Recreation (734) 761-4680 Parker Mill County Park
Hours		weekends in September and October, usually 11am-3pm (call for dates and times)
Directions/Parking		From US-23 to the West, take Exit 39, turning right onto Geddes Road. The entrance to Parker Mill County Park is on the right just after Dixboro Road. Map: http://www.ci.ann-arbor.mi.us/framed/parks/index.html Select Parks, Park Map, click on the Northeast section on the map, click on Forest (Forest Park Nature Area).
Admission		Free
Description		This two stone grist mill was built by William Q. and Mary Parker in 1873 on their farm along the Huron River on the ruins of the 1824 Fleming saw mill. It is an example of Oliver Evan's mechanized milling system developed in the 1780s. Their son Fred J. Parker added a cider mill in 1887 to produce vinegar which was later closed due to an apple blight in the early 1900s. In 1910, after William's death, his son George Parker expanded it into a commercial flour mill to produce graham and buckwheat flour, corn meal, pancake mix, and cracked wheat breakfast cereal which operated until 1959. The mill continued to be used by the family until 1968. In 1978, a flood destroyed the mill pond and dam. The mill was restored in 1984. The Parker's log cabin was moved next to the mill; their fieldstone home next door is privately owned. Related Articles: 1984, July, Ann Arbor Observer, "The Parker Mill" by Sandra Shapiro,    about the Parker home and mill 1987, July 7, Ann Arbor News, Metro section and page A6 1993, Feb. 9, Ann Arbor News, donation by Hoyt Garrod Post 1996, June 7, Ann Arbor News, "Refurbished Parker Mill Park Set to    Reopen Saturday" 1996, Aug. 7, Ann Arbor News, Local section, "Trail Mix" 1996, Sep.24, Ann Arbor News, Connection section, "Milling About" The Washtenaw County Parks & Recreation Commission has put together a brochure and also a scrapbook of newspaper articles and photographs which is on display when the mill is open for tours during September and October.
		Copyright © 1997-2007, Genealogical Society of Washtenaw County, Michigan, Inc. All rights reserved. Permission to print a single copy for personal use is granted. http://www.hvcn.org/info/gswc/society/musparker.htm Designed by S. Brevoort. Revised 15 October 2007. Send comments or changes to Sharon at wwwgswc@aol.com. Images © GSWC, Corel Corporation; photographs © S. Brevoort.