Historical Images of Porter County

Chesterton Roller Mills [Blackwell Mill]
Chesterton, Indiana

Date: 1905
Source Type: Newspaper advertisement
Publisher, Printer, Photographer: Unknown
Postmark: Not applicable
Collection: Steven R. Shook
Remark: H. L. Cooper, proprietor. Manufacturer of winter wheat flour, whole wheat flour, Graham flour, rye and buckwheat flour, cornmeal, and feed. Chesterton Roller Mills was a flouring mill located at the northeast corner of present day intersection of Calumet Avenue and Porter Avenue in Chesterton. Coffee Creek ran east of the mill and provided the mill's source of power. The mill site was originally called Ingraham's Mill after Daniel P. Ingraham, who established the mill site on what later would be referred to as Lot 4 of Block 4 in the Quick's Addition. Ingraham was extensively engaged in the stumpage and lumber business in the townships of Jackson, Liberty, and Westchester. Thomas Blackwell purchased the milling business in December 1875, and the mill's name was changed to Blackwell's Mill. During Blackwell's ownership, the mill included a three-run grist operation, a sawmill, a planar mill, a matcher, and machine shop, which was valued at more than $2,000 in 1882. John A. Ketring would purchase the mill from Blackwell, which he then sold to H. L. Cooper of Morgan Park, Cook County, Illinois, in 1903.

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Image and related text prepared by Steven R. Shook