Cox's Grist Mill
Wayne Co. | Indiana | USA
Watersource: Middle Fork Whitewater River.
Cox's Grist Mill
Take exit #153 off I-70, go north on Sr 227 to 4820 In 227, just north of the Whitewater River at the northern edge of Middleboro.
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The 3.5 story brick with stone foundation mill with a gable roof was built in 1860 by Robert Cox. An earlier mill, built in 1826 by Jeremiah Cox II, is located behind this one, and is used as a barn.
The mill operated continuously from 1860-1920. From 1920-1930, it was operated by Listus Little, the miller, employed by the owner, Leslie Cook, the great,great grandson of Jeremiah Cox I. Little died in 1930 and the mill closed, but still used for storage and a repair shop by Leslie Cook to make gates, etc. for his farm operation.
In 1953, it was abandoned, then purchased by Grimsley Hobbs, a philosophy professor who hoped to get it running again on a small scale. The dam from the Whitewater River no longer existed and the raceway was just a grass covered groove in the ground, so they ran the buhr stone by a gasoline engine.
An extended portion of the basement was built off of the back of the building for the wheelhouse. This supported the outer bearings of the wheel shaft holding the wheel, protected the wheel from becoming coated in ice in the winter, and protected the wheel from drying out in the summer.
Small Spring house/cold cellar behind the mill.GPS: 39D 53.77 N, 84D 49.9'W ele 1,050'/320 meters Cincinnati Quadrangle
Access to basement through door below small pent roof on the south side of mill near Sr 227.
The north side of the mill, up steps between the wheelhouse and the springhouse. The upper area is landscaped with shade-loving plants and shrubs.
In 1962, it was sold to Richard McKees, then to Donald Martins, to Eric and Gay Smith, all of whom wished to open a business in the old mill.
In 1981, it was sold to John and Gayle Backmeyer, who sued the former owners for selling it under false pretenses: it had a pest problem and was not in the condition previously stated. In 2008, it is occupied as a residence by Dr. Dariece Senderak, DVM.