In the heart of the Miami Valley in Ohio is the small town of Clifton. It is mostly known for the historic mill powered by the Little Miami River. Along with the mill, the town has many other old buildings and an interesting history. The river flowing for eons has cut through the earth, making a natural gorge and a perfect location for water powered mills. Col. Robert Patterson, an ancestor of the founder of National Cash Register in Dayton, John Patterson, chose the Little Miami River for the site of his woolen mill. It furnished material for the American army during the War of 1812. Soon after, five other mills sprang up along the river, including a woolen mill, saw mill, paper mill, barrel mill and a grist mill (used for grinding grains).
In 1802, Revolutionary War soldier and frontiersman Owen Davis built the first mill in the Clifton Gorge. The village around the mills became known as Davis Mills. When the village was platted in the 1830s and given a post office, it was named Clifton for the surrounding cliffs in the gorge. The mill that Owen Davis built over two centuries ago is the Clifton Mill that still stands today and is one of the oldest mills in the United States. Clifton has many historic buildings, including an old blacksmith shop, service station and opera house that is still used by the community for public functions.
A wooden covered bridge crosses over the Little Miami River and is used as a pedestrian bridge. It was built in the 1990s to resemble bridges of the past. The Clifton Gorge State Nature Preserve and John Bryan State Park are nearby and offer a chance to experience the natural surroundings of the gorge. The mill is privately owned and still grinds grain, using water power. Tours are available to see how it operates. It also has a restaurant and gift shop for visitors to get a bite to eat or take home a reminder of their visit. During the Christmas season, the old mill is decorated with four million lights and attracts visitors from far away to see the dazzling display. In 2021, it took third place on the USA Today’s list of the ten best holiday displays.
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