Valley Paper Mill Park

Valley Paper Mill Park. — History —. , 1790 , Settled in 1790 as Stephenville, the Alcove community harnessed the power of water from the Hannacroix Creek in the early industrial era of this region of the state. , 1844 , Here in 1844 Ephraim Andres built a cloth and wool carding mill powered by water impounded by a timber dam on the Hannacroix Creek which flows next to the park., 1848 John Andrews enlarged the operation in 1848 as the Valley Paper Mill and converted it to the manufacture of straw wrapping paper. The chimney presently standing on the site was erected at that time to facilitate the larger boiler and steam engine that enabled greater production capacity. By 1855 the mill employed 25 people and was capable of producing 3.5 tons of material in a 24-hour period. , In 1892 the mill burned to the ground leaving only the 94-foot brick chimney remaining., 1897 , The site sat vacant until The Alcove Creamery Company established their business there in 1897 to attract local farmers. That business was in operation into the early 1900’s, This facsimile of a May 1908 receipt from The Alcove Creamery Company records the production of butter from milk provided by Mr. J.A. Vanderzee, a local farmer., 1900’s , Later in the 1900’s the Creamery building was turned into the Chimney Top Inn and dance hall and was a well-known establishment until 1977 when it became a private residence.