Welcome to the Parker Family Mills!

Welcome to the Parker Family Mills!. . , Starting a New Life , William Q. Parker and his bride Mary came from England in 1861 to begin a new life. They purchased land in Washtenaw County and by 1872 were well-established farmers. Here, on the ruins of the old Fleming sawmill, William built a small gristmill in 1873. The mill ground wheat, buckwheat and corn into flour and meal for the family, and corn feed for the farm. William also provided this service for local farmers, playing a vital role in the frontier community. The cider building (on the right) was built in 1887 to produce cider and vinegar. A dam and millpond on Fleming Creek provided the waterpower necessary to run the machinery in both buildings. , , Three Generations of Parkers , Fred, William's oldest son, built the cider building, the early Geddes Road Bridge and many other area structures. In 1910, after William's death, his second son George took over operations and expanded into commercial sales. The business thrived and the Parker brand of Flemings Creek Mills flours, cereals and vinegars were sold at grocery stores. When the apple blight of 1914 ended the vinegar business, the cider building was used for grain receiving and cleaning. After George's death, his son Dale reduced operations to meet the needs of the family farm. The mill was finally closed in 1959. , , A Place in History , The Parker Mill complex, a National Register Historic Place, provides a look back to a bygone era when people lived off the land.Water-powered mills were the first manufacturing industry to arive in Washtenaw County and they played a vital role in the settlement of the Michigan "frontier". At one time, over 40 water-powered grist, saw, woolen, paper, pulp, plaster, and cider mills existed along the rivers and streams in Washtenaw County. , , The Parker gristmill was built on the remains of a sawmill built by Robert Fleming in 1824, one of the earliest mills in the area. In 1829, John Geddes and his brother Robert constructed a sawmill on the Huron, where Dixboro Road crosses today. It was around the Geddes mill that a small area settlement began to grow. By 1850 the Geddes mill complex also included a gristmill and a plastermill. This area, known as Geddes or Geddesburg, at one time had a school, post office and railway station. The Geddes gristmill burned down in the 1860's. When William Parker built his gristmill in 1873, it filled an important niche in the community. , , 1820s - American immigrants begin to buy land in Detroit, settling the "interior" of Michigan , 1824 - Robert Fleming and David McCord build a sawmill on Fleming Creek , 1829 - John and Robert Geddes build a sawmill on the Huron, where Dixboro Road crosses today , 1837 - Michigan becomes the 26th U.S. State , 1839 - First passenger train from Detroit to Ann Arbor , 1843 - Fleming sawmill no longer functioning , 1845 - Geddes School built on Geddes Road, where U.S. 23 interchange is today. , 1850 - Geddes Mills complex includes sawmill, plastermill, gristmill. Railroad station listed on Michigan Central Railroad schedule, fare $1.00 to Detroit , 1852 - William Parker, age 16, begins 4 year apprenticeship with a wheelwright in England , 1861 - William and Mary Parker emigrate from England, at suggestion of cousin living in Washtenaw County , 1863 - William and Mary buy 61 acres in Washtenaw County , 1860s - Geddes Mill gristmill burns down , 1872 - Parkers are well established farmers , 1873 - William builds the gristmill , 1875 - Geddes Post Office first opens; closes 6 months later , 1876 - William builds the grand stone farmhouse , 1887 - William's son Fred builds cider building, cider press produces cider and vinegar , 1894 - Geddes Post Office reopens; open until 1902 , 1903 - Ford begins mass production of automobiles , 1905 - Detroit Edison begins buying major power sites along the Huron River , 1910 - William's second son, George, takes over mill operations. Begins commercially producing flour for local stores , 1914 - Apple blight ends cider business; second mill building used for grain receiving and cleaning , 1916 - Former site of Geddes Sawmill obliterated by Detroit Edison renovations along the Huron , 1924 - Geddes road paved, realigned and raised; Mill foundation raised 4' to meet grade of road; Wooden paddled tub-wheel replaced with smaller, more efficient metal turbine , 1925 - Edison begins liquidating sites along Huron , 1941 - The U.S. enters World War II , 1945 - World War II ends , 1956 - Death of George Parker, son Dale reduces milling operations to meet farm needs only , 1959 - Mill operations cease , 1968 - Farm broken up; mill buildings and farmhouse acquired by Matthaei family , 1970 - Matthaei family hires engineering firm to inventory and measure mill , 1978 - WCPARC initiates study to develop Parker Mill properties into a 27-acre park , 1981 - Parker Mill Historic District established; initial park master plan developed , 1982 - Parker Mill designated a National Register Historic Place; original dam bursts in flood , 1983 - WCPARC acquires Parker Mill property; restoration plans prepared , 1984 - Mill restoration complete; opened to public on weekends , 1989 - Geddes Road realigned; log cabin moved to location by creek , 1996 - WCPARC builds Visitor Pavillion and Restroom Facility