Lake Orion in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Carpenter-Rudd Mill

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

1. Carpenter-Rudd Mill Marker

Inscription. Joseph Jackson built one of the first sawmills in Orion Township on this site in 1825. During the nineteenth century the waters of Paint Creek powered machines that cut logs into board lumber and ground wheat into flour. In 1835, Powell Carpenter bought the mill and built a complex of three houses, a blacksmith shop, a general store, a cooper shop, a grist mill, and a school. In 1865 it was purchased by Robert G. Rudd and became known as Rudd's Mill. Farmers from a wide geographic area brought their wheat to the mill for grinding. Milling operations ceased and the buildings were demolished in 1926. The creek dam remained until 1946 when it was washed out in a storm, flooding the creek all the way to Rochester. The concrete railroad bridge dates from 1924.

Erected 2001 by Michigan Historical Center, Michigan Department of State. (Marker Number L2087.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1825.

Location. 42° 46.04′ N, 83° 13.138′ W. Marker is near Lake Orion, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is on Kern Road north of East Clarkston

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Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is on the Paint Creek Trail, about 150 feet northwest of Kern Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Orion MI 48362, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lake Orion Methodist Church (approx. 1½ miles away); Decker Settlement / Jesse Decker (approx. 1.6 miles away); Predmore House (approx. 1.7 miles away); Paint Creek Cemetery (approx. 2½ miles away); William E. Scripps / William E. and Nina Scripps Estate (approx. 3.4 miles away); William E. Scripps (approx. 3.4 miles away); Paint Creek Millrace (approx. 3.7 miles away); Water Wheel (approx. 3.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lake Orion.

Also see . . . Carptenter Rudd Mill. Information about the mill on the Orion Historical Society's website. (Submitted on August 14, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

2. Carpenter-Rudd Mill Marker

View looking to the northwest along the Paint Creek Trail.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

3. Carpenter-Rudd Mill Marker

View of the railroad bridge and Paint Creek just to the northwest of the marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 12, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 801 times since then and 116 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 14, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.