Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH. 1970s style postcard. Source: eBay. Digitally Remastered by Dead-Rinks. (Removed dark upper left corner).
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH. Rear of the postcard. Published date unknown. Source: eBay.
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH. Source: Velvet Ice Cream website, About us page. Digitally remastered by Dead-Rinks. (Clean up spots, removed spots.)
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH. The Mill today. Go see it! Awesome ice cream! Source: Newark Advocate. May 17, 2014.
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH.
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH. Untouched.
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, OH
Ye Olde Mill Roller Rink 11324 Mount Vernon Road, Utica, Ohio. This unique place! Oh man! This is a must visit unfortunately it is not a roller rink anymore. But the place is still open for ice cream patrons! Yes, you read that correct. It is an ice cream parlor and factory.
As this story goes how it began. It began around 200 years ago (today is 09 August 2021) as a real mill whereas people dropped off their wheat to be made into flour. It was a grinding mill actually run by water power. The big wheel on the side of the 200 years old building. I would classified this is one of the oldest building to ever have a roller rink at one time. It has a rich history. Many photographs, patches, stickers and more on the roller skating rink alone. But there are more. It is updated today as an ice cream factory. Frommers rated this as one of the best ice cream factory to visit. It is Velvet Ice Cream company that is operating for more than 100 years now.
First the mill was operating from 1810s to 1930 when other mills and flour factories were able to produce flours and packages for G-stores near you. So, they closed and then the company, Velvet Ice Cream Factory bought it in 1960. But it was not located there though. The company was manufacturing else where and was growing nationally.
Let's shift gears to focus on the building and we will pick up later on the ice cream stuff.
Millwright James King built a sawmill in 1817 where Ye Olde Mill stands today, according to records collected by the Dager family. Originally, it was for lumber sawing power by water mill! Interesting fact. The sawmill used the lumber to build the three-story mill, which was one of the largest in Ohio at the time. It produced some of the first flour shipped on the Ohio and Erie Canal, as the story goes. The canal is not to be confused with Erie Canal of Upstate NY. It is located in Ohio.
Unfortunately, the mill burnt down twice and rebuilt twice. First in 1827 and again in 1865. It also changed owners several times. Then in 1930, the mill went out of business.
Jake and Minnie Spillman purchased the mill in 1930, and named it as Ye Olde Mill. Abandoning the flour making business, they built the Thom Thumb Miniature Golf Course and the Park Plan Dance Club.
Couples could pay a dime to dance on the mill’s second floor while live bands played, People visiting the mill also could enjoy roasts, local sporting events and marching band performances.
When roller skating gaining popularity at the time, the Spillmans retrofitted the 2nd floor -- the dance floor into a roller skating rink and then a built a larger one north of the mill building. For 50 cents, patrons could skate and enjoy live music from the electric organ,
Joe and Mike Dager, Velvet’s third generation of ice cream manufacturers, can remember roller skating at the mill when they were boys.
By the beginning of the 1960s, there was also a community swimming pool that had been built for the village of Utica on the property. It was already becoming an entertainment-recreation center with roller skating, dancing, miniature golf, and swimming by early 1960s.
Then in early 1960s, the Spillman Family listed the property up for sale, the Dager brothers decided to make the mill Velvet’s new home because the company had outgrown its original Utica plant on Main Street,
Now, this is where we are back to the ice cream factory. The purchase evidently ended roller skating rink at the Ye Olde Mill by 1965 when the Dagers renovated the mill building into a factory and factory store. But the mill burned down in 1986 for the third time, the Dager Family was able to rebuild it again and reopen it a year later.
It is still operational today as a favorite hot destination for tourists to come and see how their favorite ice cream are made like many do love Hershey Chocolate is to Hershey, PA where I even saw how the Hershey Chocolates are made and Utica Club Brewery in Utica, NY where their beers are made. This place look beautiful and I highly recommend you check the Ye Olde Mill where Velvet Ice Cream are made and treat yourself some ice cream! Check their website- Velvet Ice Cream. The page you will see after you click is their history page. Interesting article about it. And then check home page for their schedule. Looks like only open from July to September-- the hot months season when most people prefer to have a nice cold ice cream. Is there any sugar free ice cream, Velvet before I come?
The Interior.
Originally was a sawmill for lumber to built the mill on site then it became a flour grinding mill. Then second floor was a dance floor but the Spillmans renovated into a roller rink in 1930s. Apparently it was Maple wood floor. Then they built a larger one behind the mill, perhaps another building to accommodate more room for skaters to skate. You can see the farm post and beam built.
The Exterior.
Traditionally, a water mill. The style was Dark Wood stained mill for more than 200 years although it is 4th incarnation of the mill exact rebuilt due to the fires three times. The originals did not have any windows and the Velvet Ice Cream added windows and even for the rebuilt in 1987. It is an ice cream parlor at this tourist attraction today. The mill wheel is still there. Photos will have to explain in a thousands word each.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: 1810, 1827, 1865, and 1987 / renovated 1930, 1965.
Demolished: Fire (3 times). First in 1827 and again in 1865 and again in 1986 (all rebuilt after that) still standing today.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Farm Post-and-beam style Wood-Walled, Water-powered Mill Building.
Roof: Monitor (modern), Gable (original up to 1986 fire).
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1930 to 1960.
Timeline-
Mill: 1817 to 1827, 1827/8 to 1865, 1865/6 to 1930.
Ye Olde Mill: 1930 to 1960.
Valvet Ice Cream at Ye Olde Mill: 1965 (completed renovated) to Present.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Mill: Likely growing competition, Depression.
Ye Olde Mill: Decided to sell.
Valvet Ice Cream at Ye Olde Mill: Still Operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Velvet Ice Cream - The ice cream factory, Headquarters, and ice cream parlor and factory tour.
Newark Advocate - About the mill. May 17, 2014.
Dayton News - The Summer hours to visit.
Date of issue: 09 August 2021.
For office use only:
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.
As this story goes how it began. It began around 200 years ago (today is 09 August 2021) as a real mill whereas people dropped off their wheat to be made into flour. It was a grinding mill actually run by water power. The big wheel on the side of the 200 years old building. I would classified this is one of the oldest building to ever have a roller rink at one time. It has a rich history. Many photographs, patches, stickers and more on the roller skating rink alone. But there are more. It is updated today as an ice cream factory. Frommers rated this as one of the best ice cream factory to visit. It is Velvet Ice Cream company that is operating for more than 100 years now.
First the mill was operating from 1810s to 1930 when other mills and flour factories were able to produce flours and packages for G-stores near you. So, they closed and then the company, Velvet Ice Cream Factory bought it in 1960. But it was not located there though. The company was manufacturing else where and was growing nationally.
Let's shift gears to focus on the building and we will pick up later on the ice cream stuff.
Millwright James King built a sawmill in 1817 where Ye Olde Mill stands today, according to records collected by the Dager family. Originally, it was for lumber sawing power by water mill! Interesting fact. The sawmill used the lumber to build the three-story mill, which was one of the largest in Ohio at the time. It produced some of the first flour shipped on the Ohio and Erie Canal, as the story goes. The canal is not to be confused with Erie Canal of Upstate NY. It is located in Ohio.
Unfortunately, the mill burnt down twice and rebuilt twice. First in 1827 and again in 1865. It also changed owners several times. Then in 1930, the mill went out of business.
Jake and Minnie Spillman purchased the mill in 1930, and named it as Ye Olde Mill. Abandoning the flour making business, they built the Thom Thumb Miniature Golf Course and the Park Plan Dance Club.
Couples could pay a dime to dance on the mill’s second floor while live bands played, People visiting the mill also could enjoy roasts, local sporting events and marching band performances.
When roller skating gaining popularity at the time, the Spillmans retrofitted the 2nd floor -- the dance floor into a roller skating rink and then a built a larger one north of the mill building. For 50 cents, patrons could skate and enjoy live music from the electric organ,
Joe and Mike Dager, Velvet’s third generation of ice cream manufacturers, can remember roller skating at the mill when they were boys.
By the beginning of the 1960s, there was also a community swimming pool that had been built for the village of Utica on the property. It was already becoming an entertainment-recreation center with roller skating, dancing, miniature golf, and swimming by early 1960s.
Then in early 1960s, the Spillman Family listed the property up for sale, the Dager brothers decided to make the mill Velvet’s new home because the company had outgrown its original Utica plant on Main Street,
Now, this is where we are back to the ice cream factory. The purchase evidently ended roller skating rink at the Ye Olde Mill by 1965 when the Dagers renovated the mill building into a factory and factory store. But the mill burned down in 1986 for the third time, the Dager Family was able to rebuild it again and reopen it a year later.
It is still operational today as a favorite hot destination for tourists to come and see how their favorite ice cream are made like many do love Hershey Chocolate is to Hershey, PA where I even saw how the Hershey Chocolates are made and Utica Club Brewery in Utica, NY where their beers are made. This place look beautiful and I highly recommend you check the Ye Olde Mill where Velvet Ice Cream are made and treat yourself some ice cream! Check their website- Velvet Ice Cream. The page you will see after you click is their history page. Interesting article about it. And then check home page for their schedule. Looks like only open from July to September-- the hot months season when most people prefer to have a nice cold ice cream. Is there any sugar free ice cream, Velvet before I come?
The Interior.
Originally was a sawmill for lumber to built the mill on site then it became a flour grinding mill. Then second floor was a dance floor but the Spillmans renovated into a roller rink in 1930s. Apparently it was Maple wood floor. Then they built a larger one behind the mill, perhaps another building to accommodate more room for skaters to skate. You can see the farm post and beam built.
The Exterior.
Traditionally, a water mill. The style was Dark Wood stained mill for more than 200 years although it is 4th incarnation of the mill exact rebuilt due to the fires three times. The originals did not have any windows and the Velvet Ice Cream added windows and even for the rebuilt in 1987. It is an ice cream parlor at this tourist attraction today. The mill wheel is still there. Photos will have to explain in a thousands word each.
The Stats:
Rink Size: N/A. Floor: N/A. Floor Layout: N/A.
Building Size: N/A. Built/Renovations: 1810, 1827, 1865, and 1987 / renovated 1930, 1965.
Demolished: Fire (3 times). First in 1827 and again in 1865 and again in 1986 (all rebuilt after that) still standing today.
Type of Building: Free-Span Wood Farm Post-and-beam style Wood-Walled, Water-powered Mill Building.
Roof: Monitor (modern), Gable (original up to 1986 fire).
Acres: N/A.
Operated: (Overall)-- 1930 to 1960.
Timeline-
Mill: 1817 to 1827, 1827/8 to 1865, 1865/6 to 1930.
Ye Olde Mill: 1930 to 1960.
Valvet Ice Cream at Ye Olde Mill: 1965 (completed renovated) to Present.
Reason for Closure: N/A.
Mill: Likely growing competition, Depression.
Ye Olde Mill: Decided to sell.
Valvet Ice Cream at Ye Olde Mill: Still Operational.
Wanted: Information regarding exact dates of open/closed, why closed, size of rink, rink materials. Also photos/articles. Anyone knows or have photos, please let me know by emailing at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources:
Velvet Ice Cream - The ice cream factory, Headquarters, and ice cream parlor and factory tour.
Newark Advocate - About the mill. May 17, 2014.
Dayton News - The Summer hours to visit.
Date of issue: 09 August 2021.
For office use only:
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. Jn 3:3 and 16.