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Huge trees line the banks and islands of the creek and mill race; red, white, and burr oak, black walnut, ash, willows, cedar, birch, cherry, tulip poplar, with the white barked sycamore of wetlands predominating. The forest floor is carpeted with wildflowers spring and summer. Abundantly blessed with many wild plants, greenery abounds with wild grapes, ginger, and raspberries to name a few. The flowing waters attract many and varied species of mammals; white tailed deer, fox, muskrat, beavers, weasels, squirrels and rabbits. There are of course reptiles and fish, as well as many kinds of birds including the Great Blue Heron, King Fisher, warblers of all kinds, nuthatches and chickadees, owls, and woodpeckers, as well as the familiar cardinals, robins, blue jays, and sparrows.
Geese and ducks, both mallards and an occasional wood duck, also inhabit the area and sometimes winter over. Because of the abundance of wildlife, and the uniqueness of its ecosystem, the Mill property is considered a wildlife sanctuary. The Mill itself has a backdrop of mowed lawns and tree covered knolls bordering both sides of Greenville Creek, which meanders freely through the property.
The water from the creek still provides power that turns the underwater turbines (44" & 30.5") which power all of the milling machinery. A large and small dam creates a two mile lake area from which water is channeled to the millrace. A pair of water gates enables the stream water to be diverted into the race to impel the turbines. A second outlet gate (located under the mill) enables the race to be drained when it is necessary to perform maintenance work on the turbines.
Built in 1849 by Gabriel Baer, Bear's Mill is one of the few operating water powered mills in Ohio today. The site of the present mill, as well as the water rights, was granted to Major George Adams by Presidential Deed by President James Monroe in 1824.
While another mill flourished on this property prior to 1848, it was at this time that the land was purchased by Mr. Baer, a prominent Pennsylvania miller. At the time Baer purchased the land, construction of the present mill had already been started by Moses and Manning Hart, who had searched the virgin forest in the area for building materials
The framework and siding on the building are still the original. The hand hewn timber framework is exquisitely done with beams ranging from 12" X 16" and 50' long without a single splice. The siding is American Black Walnut. The central bay has grain handling doors on all four levels serviced by a water powered wench with cable from the peak. This is how all the grain makes its' way upstairs.
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