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

Rochester Paper Mill

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 14, 2021

1. Rochester Paper Mill Marker

Inscription. A flour mill was built on the other side of Paint Creek on Mill Street in 1823, and converted to a paper mill in 1857.

The mill was destroyed in 1875 by a fire started by a disgruntled employee. Owner William Barnes rebuilt the structure with a slate roof to lessen fire hazard. Over the years, this building housed many paper mills, most notably the Barnes Paper Mill, Peninsular Paper Mill, and Rochester Paper Company. When the mill discontinued operations in 202, it was the oldest continuously operating paper mill in Michigan.

To the south is the confluence of the Paint Creek with the Clinton River. Stony Creek merges with the Clinton River farther east. These waterways provided the power that brought many mills to the area.

Erected by Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm, The Preede Foundation in conjunction with the Community Foundation of Greater Rochester, Paint Creek Trailways Commission, Downtown Rochester, Rochester-Avon Historical Society, Rochester Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1823.

Location. 42° 40.693′

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N, 83° 7.692′ W. Marker is in Rochester, Michigan, in Oakland County. Marker is on Elizabeth Street south of East 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 194 Elizabeth Street, Rochester MI 48307, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Western Knitting Mills Dam and Michigan Central Railroad Bridge (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Hammer (approx. 0.2 miles away); Western Knitting Mills and Boarding Houses (approx. 0.2 miles away); Western Knitting Mills (approx. ¼ mile away); City of Rochester, Michigan (approx. ¼ mile away); Rollin Sprague Building (approx. 0.3 miles away); Rochester Opera House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Masonic Block (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Rochester.

Also see . . . 1875 Barnes Fire. The host of The Story of Michigan explores the newspaper archives at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm and visits the Oakland County Courthouse to track down the story of the Barnes Paper Mill fire in an episode from February 26, 2018. (Submitted on August 17, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.)

Rochester Paper Mill Marker — top left image image. Click for full size.

2. Rochester Paper Mill Marker — top left image

ca. 1905

Rochester Paper Mill Marker — top right image image. Click for full size.

3. Rochester Paper Mill Marker — top right image

Blotter Ad ca. 1945

Rochester Paper Mill Marker — bottom image image. Click for full size.

4. Rochester Paper Mill Marker — bottom image

ca. 1920

Photographed By Joel Seewald, August 14, 2021

5. Rochester Paper Mill Marker

View looking toward the west on the Clinton River Trail. The marker is at the south end of the Rochester River Walk, which connects the Clinton River Trail to the Paint Creek Trail.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 19, 2021. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan. This page has been viewed 342 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on August 17, 2021, by Joel Seewald of Madison Heights, Michigan.