Mills of Plain Township

Mills of Plain Township. . When the early settlers moved to the Ohio frontier in the early 1800s, mature trees dominated the landscape. As the region grew, water-powered mills were constructed to meet the demand for building materials cut from the nearby forest. Over time, log homes for small family farms gave way to wood frame houses and barns built with milled lumber., Ash boards were used for flooring, oak beams for structure, and walnut for trim, cupboards, and doors., This restroom facility was modeled after the mills that were a common sight along Rocky Fork Creek in the mid-1800s. At their peak, mills produced 2,000 to 3,000 board feet every 24 hours. One local resident, Dr. Isaac Newton Smith, wrote, "During this time, Plain Township made wonderful progress. There was ceaseless war on the woods, for the land must be cleared to raise grain.”, Today you will find oak, walnut, maple, beech, and other tree varieties growing in the park because of the conservation efforts by Metro Parks.