Oakland Township near Rochester in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Paint Creek Millrace

Registered Michigan Historic Site

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

1. Paint Creek Millrace Marker

Inscription. Paint Creek begins in a Brandon Township wetland and flows southeast to Rochester where it empties into the Clinton River. Today a thriving trout stream, the creek was important for waterpower during the nineteenth century. Needham Hemingway dammed the creek, dug a one-half-mile-long millrace and built a gristmill in 1835. Edward Demerall owned a sawmill just west of here from 1840 until 1872, when the Detroit and Bay City Railroad laid track that disrupted production. By 1876, William Goodison had bought Hemingway's mill, enlarged it and installed modern machinery. The mill operated until 1941. The abandoned railroad bed became the Paint Creek Trail in 1981.

Erected 2002 by Michigan Historical Commission-Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number L2015.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Railroads & Streetcars • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1835.

Location. 42° 43.979′ N, 83° 9.776′ W. Marker is near Rochester, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is in Oakland Township. Marker is at the intersection of Orion Road and Gallagher Road, on the left when traveling north on Orion Road. Touch for map

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. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4480 Orion Road, Rochester MI 48306, 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. Water Wheel (within shouting distance of this marker); The Paint Creek Cider Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Paint Creek Cider Mill (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Forestry Mowing for Habitat Restoration (approx. 0.6 miles away); Paint Creek Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Decker Settlement / Jesse Decker (approx. 2.8 miles away); The Oak Leaf (approx. 3.3 miles away); 1850 Red House (approx. 3½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

2. Paint Creek Millrace Marker

View looking west down Gallagher Road.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

3. Paint Creek Millrace Marker

Remains of the millrace.

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 10, 2019

4. Paint Creek Millrace Marker

Paint Creek next to the millrace.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 14, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 297 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 14, 2019, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.