Restoration of Kirby's Mill
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Why restoration of Kirby's Mill is important
Science. Inventor James Kirby built the mill in 1922 to generate electric power. Kirby's experimental design is based on much older grist mill technology, but he adapted it to work with a low flow stream. The hub of the water wheel is balanced on ball bearings and the wheel oriented for the most efficient energy transfer. The restored mill will showcase the technology of energy production. Its picturesque setting will make the mill an inviting gateway for learning about science and engineering
Jim Kirby in his mill workshop. The waterwheel drove a generator which powered the workshop machinery and provided electricity for his home across the lake. Image courtesy of Richfield Historical Society.
Beauty. The peaceful sight of water cascading over a slowly turning wheel in the rural landscape will evoke a feeling of timeless transcendence.
A quiet moment at Kirby's Mill 2016. Photo by Sandy Norris
Heritage. For over 70 years, Kirby’s Mill served as a beloved icon of the Cleveland and Lake Erie Girl Scout Councils. Council President Georgianna Bonds wrote: “The Mill has stood in the council as a symbol of Girl Scouting. The energy created by its movement has given light to the buildings around it. Its rustic beauty has made a landscape come alive with new interest. And its endurance has proved the value of sound foundations and constant purpose.”
Girl Scouts learning about Kirby's Mill at the National Senior Round Up at Camp Julia Crowell, 1968. Image from GSNEO archives
The Plan
Work on the mill will be completed in stages as the funds are raised.
Work on the mill will be completed in stages as the funds are raised.
- Architectural & structural engineering consultation - DONE! Thanks to the Ohio History Fund and Friends of RHP membership dues
- New roof – DONE! Thanks to generous donors including Helen Cappy
- Restored windows - three new windows on the west side DONE! Thanks to generous donors and volunteer craftsman
- Concrete repair of the water wheel pit and supports DONE! (December 2022) Thanks to many generous donors including the Haslinger Family Foundation
- Reconstruction of the water wheel DONE! (Sept 2, 2022) The many generous donors include Roy & Cindy Moore and "Anonymous" who provided matching funds to the 2021 campaign.
- Safety screening around the water wheel DONE!
- Interim, on-site donor recognition IN PLACE!
- Restoration of the balcony that overlooks the lake IN PROGRESS
- Structural repairs to the mill house
- Replacement of exterior stairway
- Replacement of the swinging bridge
- Restoration of the water box, water box supports, flume ( the water conduit between lake and wheel)
- Finishing touches: gutters, storm windows, gravel walkway
- Landscaping, viewing benches
- Hydroelectric generating equipment
- Educational displays and support First set complete! Thanks to the Akron Community Foundation, William Wallace Fund, and to Fran Rifici GR
- Fundraising (mailings, events) in progress
- Insurance, Security, Contingencies
- Permanent Donor Recognition
- Endowment Fund for repair and maintenance Begun!
Restoration Project archive
2013 Saving and restoring Kirby's Mill was defined as our highest priority because of its potential for STEM education, especially as an engaging demonstration of renewable energy.
This image by Jennifer Kerbo , was commissioned by members of the Friends on 2013 to show how the mill would encourage STEM education.
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2015. RJRD assigns the initial feasibility assessment for restoration of the mill to Friends. We consulted with Wolfe Creek grist mill Millwright Mark Smith, hydropower expert Steve Schildhorn of Cornerstone Engineering, Summit County, architectural firm Braun & Steidle, and Engineering firm Ohlin & Reed and shared their positive reports with RJRD. Then we had to await the fate of Lake Jinelle's dam |
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2017 The result of the RJRD Master Planning was that Lake Jinelle should be saved and the dam repaired. However it was not clear if the dam could be saved. Previous engineering studies showed that bringing the dam into compliance with the requirements of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) would drastically reduce the size of the lake or radically alter the surrounding landscape. Kirby's Mill is situated in the middle of the dam; the dam is the foundation of the mill. The mill could not be operations unless the dam was also. RJRD hired dam engineering firm Gannet Fleming who proposed what seemed like a viable solution.
2018
2019
2018
- The Gannet Fleming dam plan was approved by the ODNR.
- FoCH applied for a grant to re-engage their 2016 consultants to draw up plans for the mill restoration.
- RJRD approves the Kirby's Mill work plan
- Bob Matusek began rebuilding the mill windows.
2019
- Ohio History Fund awards FoCH $15,250.00 for construction plans. The Ohio History Fund is made possible by voluntary donations of state income tax refunds, sales of Ohio History “mastodon” license plates, and other donations. www.ohiohistory.org/historyfund .
- New roof and windows funded by Jon and Kitty Antalvari
Before
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After
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Helen Cappy contributed a generous portion toward the re-roofing. The restored windows feature a Lexan outer layer to help deter vandalism
The old roof had grown a veritable garden of moss and lichens.....
The old roof had grown a veritable garden of moss and lichens.....
photo by Beth Sanderson
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photo by Elizabeth Csontos
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2019 Fundraising Campaign for the mill kicks off at Kirby Day in September.
Phase One of dam repairs completed by Black Horse Construction, funded by RJRD through the 2014 bond issue. The entire dam becomes its own emergency spillway, faced with articulated concrete blocks that will hold the earthen substrate if/when flood water spills over. For details on the innovative dam repairs, visit the Lake Jinelle page .
2020
Phase One of dam repairs completed by Black Horse Construction, funded by RJRD through the 2014 bond issue. The entire dam becomes its own emergency spillway, faced with articulated concrete blocks that will hold the earthen substrate if/when flood water spills over. For details on the innovative dam repairs, visit the Lake Jinelle page .
2020
- Historical engineering analysis by Dillon Fitzgerald of Ohlin & Reed.
- Construction drawings for the restoration submitted by architect Chas Schreckenberger of Prime Engineering and structural engineer Phil Reed of Ohlin and Reed.
- Drawings approved by RJRD August 24, sent to Columbus to be approved by the Ohio History Fund review board.
- Coronavirus 2019 (covid) stalls fundraising and slows approval from the Ohio History Fund.
- Rob Kazar begins filming promotional video for the Mill. Eagle Scout candidate Ethan Horacek produces a documentary film on Kirby's Mill for his Eagle project..
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Left: Friends review the construction diagrams on site to make sure everything checks out. Pictured: Rob Kazar, Sandy Norris, Corey Ringle.
Above and Right: Lynn Richardson shows the hitherto unnoticed floor patch that may have indicated presence of a vertical drive belt in Kirby's workshop |
Right: Clive Fetzer re-creates the position of Kirby's friend ( affectionately known as "Mr. Legs") from the vintage photo of Kirby's workshop. These three photos were from Dillon Fitzgerald's historical engineering analysis to determine how the mill was used in Kirby's time.
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2021.
- One is Good, Two is Better matching challenge campaign takes place over the 100 days of summer. Just over $50,000.00 is raised.
- Millwright Ben Hassett is selected to rebuild the water wheel.
- The Ohio History Fund final report is approved and grant funds are released.
Ben Hassett is a master millwright who has worked on hundreds of historic mills, including the giant waterwheel and gearing at Rock Mill in Fairfield County, Ohio.
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Millwright Ben Hassett (in blue shirt) points out construction features of the 1993 waterwheel while Friends' secretary Lynn Richardson and Park Director David Green look on.
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The rim of the re-built waterwheel coming together at Ben's workshop. September 2021
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 Close-up of rim detail showing slots for the water buckets. September 2021
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October 2021. Northstar Contracting Company begins work on the wheel pit and finds that the concrete is too deteriorated to repair. Plans are made to replace the wheel pit walls, using up all the available mill funds and most of FoCH's general fund. Concrete work continues through November.
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Left: the concrete mixing truck positioned alongside the creek. Above: The company doing the concrete work was Northstar who were simultaneously working to repair the dam.
Right: the concrete flowed through hoses into wooden forms that replicate the size and shape of the old wheel support piers. Photos by Sandy Norris. |
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Winter of 2021/ 2022. Heavy snowfall delayed completion of the dam, which pushed back the time the wheel could be returned.
Summer 2022. The temporary flume repair. Sometime in the past, the original wooden chute at the lower end of the flume was replaced by a PVC pipe.
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August 2022. Ben Hassett returned to install the refurbished water wheel. In spite of being short-staffed, the work goes smoothly. The axle is lifted onto the new piers, positioned, and bolted down. The wheel spokes (arms) are positioned in place. Rims are added the next day. Bucket boards and knee boards installed on the third day. Fourth day: Sole boards form the smooth inner surface of the wheel and the temporary flume is extended.
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Rims in place
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2023 Annual maintenance takes place on the wheel even as we await restoration of the rest of the mill. The wheel is continuously assessed for balance, and a preservative oil recommended by Ben Hassett is applied yearly. This years' work crew was Corey Ringle, Calista Bajorek Doug Wisneski, Larry Campbell, Nancy Kanik, and Bill Leas.
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September 2024
After a long scheduling hiatus, Homeland Building Co. starts work to repair the balcony that overlooks Lake Jinelle.
After a long scheduling hiatus, Homeland Building Co. starts work to repair the balcony that overlooks Lake Jinelle.