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Ann Arbor 200

Parker Mill County Park Through The Seasons: Photos by Erin Helmrich

A Brief History of Parker Mill

Ann Arbor's Fleming Creek is the namesake of Robert Fleming, who built a sawmill on the water in 1824. His business provided some of the boards used to build the first homes in the city. In the early 1860s, newly-married William & Mary Parker left Buckinghamshire, England, and made their way to Fleming's former sawmill property, which had been abandoned and was in ruins. According to the Washtenaw County Parks Department, the Parkers used money Mary had saved while working as a maid to purchase 61 acres of land and establish a farm. In 1873, they constructed a grist mill to produce flour and corn feed. The grist mill was built directly on the fieldstone foundation of Fleming's long abandoned sawmill, and consisted of building materials found on the property like timber, riverbed gravel, and more field stones. The Parkers made their mill available to other nearby farm families, and played a vital role in the area then known as "Geddesburg".

1874 Geddesburg
1874 plat map shows William Parker's property on Fleming Creek & the Huron River. Also noted is a paper mill on the Huron River, another local use of water power.

William Parker ran the grist mill until his death in October 1906. His son George then took over leadership, expanding the business into a commercial flour mill which sold pancake mix, graham flour, buckwheat flour, cornmeal, and cracked wheat breakfast cereal to Ann Arbor area stores until the late 1950s. The Parker brand of "Flemings Creek Mills" products lasted until George's death in 1956.

Parker Mill
Parker Mill At Fleming Creek, Ann Arbor News, Spring 1954, Photographer Eck Stanger
Parker's Pancake Mix
Parker's Pioneer Pancake Mix Packaging, Courtesy of The Ypsilanti Historical Society

Today, Parker Mill County Park is a historic operating grist mill and public park operated by the Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. Together with the City of Ann Arbor's Forest Park, it covers 45 acres of mostly wooded land that encompasses the tail end of Fleming Creek, including its mouth where it joins the Huron River. After the mill pond dam was destroyed in a flood, Washtenaw County refitted the mill to run on electricity. Visitors may tour the operational mill, or stroll the many nature trails along the water. This collection of photographs from photographer Erin Helmrich, dating from 2014 to 2019, documents an area which once played an important role in pioneer industry.

"During my 21 years living in Ann Arbor, exploring the abundance of parks and taking pictures of what I see is one of my favorite hobbies. Parker Mill is near my home and became a favorite spot since it's a really perfect walk in the woods. The Hoyt G. Post trail is my go-to trail because it's a loop walk, and with the boardwalk, it's accessible all four seasons.  The trail curves along Fleming Creek and includes a platform along the Huron River which is one of the most peaceful spots in town. Some of my best nature encounters have occurred at Parker Mill too. Over the years I have spotted a water snake, a fox hunting prey, a young hawk trying to get a dead duck from the creek in the dead of winter, a mottled sculpin under the train bridge, and so many mushrooms and birds!" - Erin Helmrich

Visit this link to view the complete collection of photos of the Parker Mill County Park.

Parker Mill, June 14, 2014
Parker Mill County Park, June 14, 2014, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, November 14, 2015
Parker Mill County Park, November 14, 2015, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, June 3, 2016
Parker Mill County Park, June 3, 2016, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, June 3, 2016
Parker Mill County Park, June 3, 2016, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, August 23, 2016
Parker Mill County Park, August 23, 2016, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, August 23, 2016
Parker Mill County Park, August 23, 2016, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, October 2, 2016
Parker Mill County Park, October 2, 2016, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, January 29, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, January 29, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, January 29, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, January 29, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, September 16, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, September 16, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, October 17, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, November 8, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, November 8, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, December 17, 2017
Parker Mill County Park, December 17, 2017, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, March 12, 2018
Parker Mill County Park, March 12, 2018, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, November 13, 2018
Parker Mill County Park, November 13, 2018, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, November 13, 2018
Parker Mill County Park, November 13, 2018, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, January 11, 2019
Parker Mill County Park, January 11, 2019, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, March 16, 2019
Parker Mill County Park, March 16, 2019, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, April 22, 2019
Parker Mill County Park, April 22, 2019, Photographer Erin Helmrich
Parker Mill, July 14, 2019
Parker Mill County Park, July 14, 2019, Photographer Erin Helmrich

 

Parker Mill County Park, November 20, 2016 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, November 20, 2016 image
Year:
2016

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, November 25, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, November 25, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, November 25, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, November 25, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, October 17, 2017 image
Year:
2017

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 Photographer: Erin Helmrich

Parker Mill County Park, September 22, 2017 image
Year:
2017