| The Village Of Spring Mills |
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As noted, a sawmill was built on the lower water power in 1846, using beams and lumber hauled from Fenton by William C. Beach, a son of pioneer Michael Beach. Once operational, this sawmill provided lumber for most of Highland's early frame buildings. In May, 1863, however, the sawmill was destroyed by fire. Also lost were a wood lathe and joinery tools belonging to Lester St. John, who had a woodworking shop in the building. Four years later, in 1867, Chester M. Chatfield acquired the site and constructed a water-powered cider mill, which can be seen on the 1872 map presented previously. This was bought in 1869 by John B. Crouse who enlarged the mill and established the Highland Cider and Vinegar Works a/k/a the Highland Vinegar Works. In 1880 Crouse, Henry Tremaine and Solon Wilhelm built the first pickle factory in Highland Station and the Highland Vinegar Works was incorporated into this firm to provide the vinegar used to make the pickles. The engraving below shows the mill circa 1890, looking southeast across Pettibone Creek. The wagon in the foreground is crossing the bridge which carried Ruggles Road over the mill dam, with the mill pond to the left (north).
