Massey Mill / Gilpin's Mill / Higman Mill
Kent Co. | Maryland | USA
Watersource: Cypress Branch of Chester River.
Massey Mill / Gilpin's Mill / Higman Mill
The mill is located at 214 S. Sassafras St./Sh 313 about 1500 south of Sh 291 in the town of Millington.
This mill was built in 1763 by Daniel Massey and remained in use for almost 200 years.
There is a mill pond behind the mill which supplied the water to the wheel. GPS: 75' 50.15W, 39' 15.29N
The first wheel was a wooden overshot wheel, followed by a turbine and then be a wrought iron, overshot wheel in 1923.
A steam engine was also used for auxiliary power. Some machinery remains in place.
When the mill was built the town was called "Head of Chester," referring to the Chester River which flows over 37 miles to the Bay. The stone indicates milling grain from 1763 through 1954.
Soon after the mill was built, it was sold to Thomas Gilpin. The mill burned in 1872 and was rebuilt. The 50 lb. bag for Turkey Mash in the window was milled by J.(James) E. Higman & Sons, Millington, Md.
In 1877, it was shown as J. Wesley Jarman's, Millington Merchant Mills. Theis Bag indicates Wheat Heart Flour milled by Millington Mills-also the dates of operation, 1763-1954, are printed on the bag.
In 1905 it was deeded to James E. Higman and operated by John & Harry Higman until sold in 1946 to Mr.& Mrs. Karl Bauer.
Robert and Dorn O'Dell were grinding flour in 1950, and were the subject of an article, "186-year-old mill keeps grinding on in Md." in the New York Herald Tribune.
An old photograph of the Millington Mill, which once bore this sign. There is a local story that Millington got its name because there were so many mills located in that area at one time.