Ghent in Summit County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Ghent Woolen Mill
1832
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 7, 2019
1. Ghent Woolen Mill Marker
The Ghent Woolen Mill was one of at least thirteen mills built in the Yellow Creek Valley to take advantage of the water power available in the creek’s 400-foot fall across Bath Township. Erected by Messrs. Allen and Bloom in 1832, it was a marginal commercial success and changed hands several times during the 1800s—reportedly because an abundant wolf population in this region made raising sheep a risky venture. In its peak years of operation during the Civil War era the Ghent mill processed as much as 10,000 pounds of wool into finished cloth and yarn annually. It was converted to residences in the late 1890s. The oldest known woolen mill still standing in Ohio. It retains many of its original architectural features.
Erected 2000 by the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, the Longaberger Company, the Bath Township Historical Society, and The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 18-77.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.
Location. 41° 9.49′ N, 81° 38.311′ W. Marker is in Ghent, Ohio, in Summit County. Marker
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Hamlets of Bath Alive with history (approx. ¼ mile away); Discover the Heritage Corridors of Bath (approx. ¼ mile away); A Stream of Prosperity (approx. ¼ mile away); Bath Township Veterans Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away); In Honor Of Bath Township Veterans (approx. ¾ mile away); Bath Township Hall / Bath Center Cemetery (approx. ¾ mile away); Shaw Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ira Cemetery Information Board (approx. 3.2 miles away).
Also see . . . Historic Ghent Hamlet, a pictorial tour. Bath Township Historical Society website entry:
Plenty of photographs in this 38 page booklet. “Sheep have become a little easier to raise over the years, but you always need to be on watch for coyotes. We have well over 100 sheep now. When we shear them, we take the wool to the woolen mill in Ghent to have it processed into fine wool cloth.”—Sally Hershey (1811-1885) (Submitted on May 30, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 7, 2019
2. Ghent Woolen Mill Building and Marker
Photographed By J. J. Prats, April 7, 2019
3. Ghent Woolen Mill
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 30, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 444 times since then and 48 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 30, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.
