Parkersburg Marker
1994 / Creator Unknown / Bryan
An old millstone stands erect on a concrete foundation, bearing a plaque noting the history of the short-lived village of Parkersburg and the various mills and other history of the area from about 1837-1901. The round millstone has a large square hole in the center, covering about half of the diameter.
Location: Southern point of the village of Parkersburg (vacated), County Road I, approximately .1 mile east of County Road 15-50
Title
Parkersburg Marker
Description
An old millstone stands erect on a concrete foundation, bearing a plaque noting the history of the short-lived village of Parkersburg and the various mills and other history of the area from about 1837-1901. The round millstone has a large square hole in the center, covering about half of the diameter.
Date
1994
Publisher
Ohio Outdoor Sculpture
Type
Identifier
2155
Location City
Location County
Location Notes
Near northwest corner of Parkersburg Wildlife area, on the north side of the road.
Provider Qualifier
Millstone donated by
Provider Entity
Dr. Frederick and Susan (Swisher) Richardson
Location Site
Location Street
County Road I, approximately .1 mile east of County Road 15-50
Location Type
Materials
Inscription
The plaque on the base reads,
"Site of Parkersburg"
"North of this point lies the village of Parkersburg, platted by Andrew Ferrier, Jan. 25, 1838. The village plot was vacated Sept. 1844."
"North of C.R. I, along Beaver Creek, lie the sites of three mills: The Andrew Smith Sawmill built ca 1837; the Henry Newman Sawmill built ca 1838; and the J. M. Hester Mill built ca 1870 near the present reconstructed mill dam site. The Andrew Ferrier Mill, built ca 1837, lies just east of this point."
"This millstone was donated by Dr. Frederick and Susan (Swisher) Richardson."
"West of the intersection of C.R. I and C.R. 15-50, lies the site of the Henry Newman Civil War underground railroad station. Still further west lies the site of the W.S. Boone Sawmill."
"About 1/4 mile east of S.R. 15 is the site of the largest walnut tree (6 ft. diameter and 60 ft. to the first limb) cut in the U.S. ca 1901."
"The famous Samuel K. Swisher gravel pit, lies just north of this point in the vicinity of the Parkersburg village plot."
"Plaque erected by Williams County Historical Society" "Montpelier, OH 1994"
"Site of Parkersburg"
"North of this point lies the village of Parkersburg, platted by Andrew Ferrier, Jan. 25, 1838. The village plot was vacated Sept. 1844."
"North of C.R. I, along Beaver Creek, lie the sites of three mills: The Andrew Smith Sawmill built ca 1837; the Henry Newman Sawmill built ca 1838; and the J. M. Hester Mill built ca 1870 near the present reconstructed mill dam site. The Andrew Ferrier Mill, built ca 1837, lies just east of this point."
"This millstone was donated by Dr. Frederick and Susan (Swisher) Richardson."
"West of the intersection of C.R. I and C.R. 15-50, lies the site of the Henry Newman Civil War underground railroad station. Still further west lies the site of the W.S. Boone Sawmill."
"About 1/4 mile east of S.R. 15 is the site of the largest walnut tree (6 ft. diameter and 60 ft. to the first limb) cut in the U.S. ca 1901."
"The famous Samuel K. Swisher gravel pit, lies just north of this point in the vicinity of the Parkersburg village plot."
"Plaque erected by Williams County Historical Society" "Montpelier, OH 1994"
Additional Resources
Richardson, W. (2008). Parkersburg. Northwest Historian, 19 (3), 1b-4b.
![Parkersburg Marker.JPG [image/jpeg]](http://www.oos.sculpturecenter.org/files/original/e1382ce99d84e0174d14a5e3bb10966b.JPG){kind=link}