"It's Cider Time Festivals Mountain Men Weekend"
 

 
 
Historic Bowen's Mills, "It's Cider Time Festivals Mountain Men and Colonial Fiber Weekend" the second of 3 great festival weekends.  There will be cider making & water powered cornmeal grinding demonstrations, "Fork River Free Trappers" living history encampment, barnyard horse pulls, sheep shearing and fiber related activities,  along with horse-drawn wagon rides and good food. The fun begins at 12 noon and lasts until 5pm both Saturday and Sunday.  
The old 1800's cider press will be making cider as folks watch, in awe, and learn how cider was pressed in the old days.  The water powered Grist Mill will also be grinding fresh corn meal through out the weekend.  It operates by a water turbine. The turbine is like a large fan lying on its side, located in the water directly beneath the old "French Burr" mill stones on the first level of the mill.
The water turbine migrated from the water wheel about one hundred years ago.  The development occurred during the Industrial revolution, using scientific principles and methods.  At that time they also made use of new materials and manufacturing methods that were also developed then.

The word turbine was coined by the French engineer Claude Bourdin in the early 19th century and is derived from the Latin word for "whirling" or a "vortex".  The main difference between early water turbines and water wheels is a swirl component of the water which passes energy to a spinning rotor.  This additional component of motion allowed the turbine to be smaller than a water wheel of the same power.  They could process more water by spinning faster and could harness much greater heads.
A special feature of the cider festival will be "The Fork River Free Trappers" mountain men encampment.  "The Fork River Free Trappers" take their name from the Thornapple River, called the Fork River by early settlers, after the indian expression meaning "river of the two tongues."
"The Fork River Free Trappers" have been very instrumental in numerous restorations at Historic Bowens Mills.  In 1989 they cleared the overgrown area along the old mill stream where they now hold their camp. In 1990 they replaced the roof on the Moe School. After working for several summers they completed the mill's water wheel in 1999.  Their latest venture was the building of the log  "Fork River Trading Post" in 2002.  The "Fork River Trading Post" is a grand addition to the park, displaying the way trappers would have sold or traded their wares during the fur trading era. 
Sunday at 1:30pm there will be a "Bowens Mills Volunteers Hall of Fame" ceremony.  Clarence Rahn of Alto, MI will be inducted as first honorary member.  Bowens Mills established the hall of fame this year, 2008 to honor individuals of noteworthy achievement through the years at the historical park.  Each year during "It's Cider Time Festivals" they will be adding many names to the list of names, that have helped the park to succeed for over 30 years.
There will be Barn Yard (fun) Horse Pull on Saturday and Sunday.  Both Pulls will be at 2:00pm.  Horse pulling started around the 1860s when farming machines were pulled by horse, farmers would boast about the strength of their horses.  They would claim that their horse could tow large loads, such as a fully loaded hay cart or wagon.  Farmers would challenge one another to contests to prove who had the strongest horse.  A barn door was removed and laid flat on the ground, the horse was then hitched to it and the farmer urged the horse to drag the barn door along the ground.  One by one, people jumped on the door until the horse could no longer drag it; the horse pulling the most people the greatest distance was judged the strongest.  This event, called horse pulling, is still carried out today.  Instead of people, fixed weights on sleds are dragged 27 feet 6 inches.  While it is said that the term horsepower is derived from this event, in reality the term was coined by James Watt.
In and around the 1840's Plank House, the oldest house in Bowens Mills, that was moved to the property in 1985, will be a nucleus of fiber activities.  There will be spinning, weaving and fiber related crafts both days.  There will also be sheep shearing demonstrations outside the post and beam barn near by. 
“Granny’s Kitchen” will be serving their scrumptious, fresh baked hot apple dumplings with ice cream along with cider, homemade donuts, caramel apples.  Delicious old fashion chili and  hot dogs are also on the fall menu.  All this good food and more are available in the large shaded picnic area down by the old mill stream, near the mill and water wheel.   
When you enter “The Bowens Mills Gathering Place” it is like walking into a museum.  The huge room holds a little of everything for visitors to take pleasure including “The Miller’s Wife Store.”  The store has a large selection of collectables, antiques, books, jewelry and gift items along with fresh ground corn meal, Amish prepared, apple butter and peach butter.  Cider by the glass or by the gallon are also obtainable. 
Performing in the gathering place both days will be Terry Pennepacker of Hastings and various other area musicians.  There will be a Bowens Mills photo display, by photographer Roger Thoreson of Hopkins, MI. 
Many items will be on display for the silent auction that is located in the gathering place.  The items for the silent auction will be displayed near the photo exhibit.  The money being raised by the auction will be used for theatrical curtains for the stage.  Donations are also being accepted.
The Mill was built in 1864 and is a Michigan State Historic Site. The antiquated four-story building’s main floor houses a working water-powered cider and grist mill that is a working museum. There is a blacksmith shop and a water-powered machine shop on the lower level. The third floor has been transformed into a quaint and cozy living quarters.  The top floor stores some old machinery, gears, and pulleys that is part of the mills history.
The 19 acre pioneer park consists of an 1840’s two-story plank-style house, an 1850’s one-room school house, and an eleven-room Victorian house built by the Bowen family in the 1860’s. A post and beam barn is home to a team of Belgian draft horses and many other farm animals for visitors to enjoy, including sheep, miniature horses, goats, chickens and a Llama.  The "Ye Ole Craft Shoppe" is an artisan’s woodworking and cooper shop.  A quaint covered bridge crosses the old mill stream to where the seventeen-foot water wheel runs, "The Bowens Mills Gathering Place", an Arts and Entertainment Center and a log cabin called "The Fork River Trading Post", The "Saw Millers Cabin" by the old mill stream & a "Line Camp Cabin"  where costumed craftsmen will be demonstrating and selling their wares both days.  All of these areas are included in the festivals gate fee, along with a free relaxing wagon ride which tours the Mill property.
Historic Bowens Mills is second generation family-owned and operated State Historic Site that receives no state funding. Its mission is to preserve the history of Yankee Springs Township and Barry County for future generations to learn from and enjoy.  All restorations and upkeep depend heavily upon volunteers, donations and gate fees. The festival gate fee for adults is $5.00, children 12years & under $3.00.  Hours are from noon to 5pm each day.
Next weekend, October 11 & 12 "It's Cider Time Festivals" presents; Historic Bowens Mills, Civil War Days.  Featuring a large Living History Encampment.  There will be a battle at 3:00 pm with a full schedule of special events, including artillery demonstrations both days.  Special Displays will include a variety of Civil War Exhibits.  A special evening performance of "A Civil War Candlelight Tour of Bowens Mills" will be performed at Dusk.  Separate tickets are required for the evening performance.  They will be available at "The Miller's Wife Store" Folks are invited to bring their cameras and enjoy a day of family fun where “Where The Past Lives Again."
The Old Mill is located in the heart of beautiful Yankee Springs Township mid-way between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo, just 2 miles north of the Yankee Springs (Gun Lake) State Park.  One could take the 131 expressway to the Bradley exit traveling east on M-179 to  Briggs Road, then turn north 1-1/2 mile to the Mill's entrance. Watch for the huge  millstone marker on Briggs Road.   Call 269-795-7530 or visit www.BowensMills.com
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The Past Lives Again at Historic Bowens Mills 
Sketches by Neal H. Cook
Researched & Written by Neal & Marion Cook
Re-edited in 1999 by Carleen Sabin
In 1836 Montermer B. Martin, a land speculator, came to Barry County and Purchased land from the government, President Martin Van Buren signing the contracts. This land was located in the north west part of Yankee Springs Township, parts of Sec. 8 and 17. The lake which is now known as Payne Lake was included in this tract.
Of course, one of the first things needed in those early days of Barry County was a sawmill. Soon a Mr. Payne and his son-in-law built a dam and a sawmill where two creeks joined just north of the lake. It was powered by a water wheel with a 4 foot fall and they were soon sawing 1,000 foot of lumber a day. The creeks became known as Payne and Hoag Creaks (Hoag Creek’s Name has since been changed to Cobb Creek.)
About 1838, Nathan Barlow, a lawyer, purchased some land which included the sawmill. Seeing the added potential of more water power a quarter or a mile or so up the creek, Mr. Barlow relocated the mill to its present location. History tells us he used many of the original timbers. Ox teams were used to transport them. Upon building the wooden dam across the creek, the water was backed up 14-feet, making the Mill Pond and in turn flooded the two ponds upstream, making the lake which was named Barlow Lake.
The Barlows also built the house on the east side of the old Mill Pond. It was there in that house that court was held and legal matters taken care of. The house is now owned and is being restored by the O’Dells.
Around 1854 the sawmill changed hands again, when Timothy and Franklin Miles bought it. More and more People were coming to the area and lumber was in great demand for their homes. Miles wanted to increase his production so he ordered some new equipment from New York State. His new "Muley Saw Mill" was delivered by ox team. He could now saw 7,000 feet of lumber a day. O. C. Bates owned the saw mill for about 1 1/2 years before selling to the Bowens. History dose not reveal any details of his ownership.
The Edwin H. Bowen’s moved to Yankee Springs from Ohio in 1864 and acquired the sawmill. Bowen and his son William soon added a grist mill with three levels to the operation. The mill was 24’ X 48’ and housed 2 sets of French Burr Stones. The Mill and surrounding area soon became known as "Bowens Mills". Before it was always known as Gun Lake, Michigan. E H. Bowen was made Postmaster and the mail was kept in a large basket in the family home, where the farmers from the surrounding country would call as often as twice a week for their letters. The mail was carried by stagecoach from Kalamazoo to Grand Rapids, someone meeting the coach at Wayland to carry the mail to Gun Lake. Later a wooden letter holder was made and put in the Mill’s Office. It is still there.
In the early 1870’s, rumors were flying around about the railroad coming through Bowens Mills, going from grand Rapids to Battle Creek. When it did, it would mean all the more people would be settling along its path. In that case, the Mill wouldn’t be large enough to handle all the needs. Mr. Bowen wanted to be ready for it, so the roof of the mill was taken off and a fourth level was added. When the railway did come, it followed the Thornapple River and never did come to Bowens Mills.
About this same time William Bowen was courting Adeline Richards. They were married on December 31, 1874, and built the house across the road from his parents (the old Saw Millers house). This house has been owned by various people over the years, but was obtained in 1984 by Neal and Marion Cook, and then purchased and restored by their daughter and son-in-law, Owen and Carleen Sabin that now own and run the Mill and property.
In 1902 Mr. Bowen purchased a huge ‘Albright’ Cider press from Burdette Briggs. A room 18 X 24 was added on the side of the mill to house it.
Bowens Mills had become famous for it buckwheat flour and old-timers tell of how in the fall, the horses and wagons were backed all through town with their loads of apples - waiting their turn at the cider press.
About the turn of the century disaster struck the mill several times. The sawmill had previously been converted from water power to the newest source of power of the time "steam". Two of the mill workers had fired up the old stationary engine and were waiting to get full head of steam. The safety valve stuck. Soon there was a big explosion and they both were killed. Not long after that the old wood dam went out, taking with it the penstock and causing massive destruction. The sawmill was washed away along with a portion of the wall of the lower level of the grist mill. It is hard to imagine the extent of the damage, even as one views the old photos taken shortly after it happened.
The Bowens sold out to a Mr. Lanson Kieney in 1912 and Mark and Mary Richie bought the property about a year later, owning it until 1922 when Elam and Minnie (Norris) Springer purchased it.
During most of the 37 years that the Springers owned the mill it was a hub of activity. Grinding flour and grist, making cider and vinegar and also being used as a pickle weigh station. The Springers even had a little store and gas pump.
In the winter of 1943 disaster struck again. Muskrats had been digging around the dam which weakened the wall and suddenly, one cold winter night, it gave way. The penstock was destroyed and almost all of the stone wall of the lower level was washed downstream. The mill was left teetering on the two short foundation walls which were still intact. Most of the contents of the basement were never found. What a heartache this must have been for Mr. Springer, who was 71 years of age at the time. Once again, old photos reveal what an awesome job the repairs would entail. However, Mr. Springer went right to work on it, and by fall had the old mill all patched up again.
Business was slow, all the surrounding communities had built up mills and kept them updated with the latest and fastest equipment. With the modern means of transportation, many farmers preferred to go where they could to their milling and their shopping as well in one trip. In 1953 the mill ceased to operate as a business after approximately 113 years of continual service to the people of Barry County.
Around 1955 the mill was sold to Neal and Helen Engle. Their primary use of it was to use its property to raise pickles on its acreage, doing so for about four seasons. When it became harvest time, the Engles hired migrant workers to help and the old mill became home to as many as 30 Mexicans for several weeks each year. They brought their own cots, stove, tables and chairs and used the pond for bathing. They loved the old mill and were happy there. The sound of their guitars and singing could be heard far into the night.
The Engles also made cider a couple of times soon after they bought the Mill. They belted up the old press to a tractor. Over the years the power source had been converted from water, to steam, to an old ‘one -lunger’ gasoline engine.
Four families bought the mill from the Engles in 1971. They were Gorden & Willonore Fuhr, Dick & Martha Shaw, Bill & Beverly Slade and David & Carolin Dimmers. They replaced the windows and doors vandals had destroyed and did a basic clean up job.
In 1972 the state erected a marker renaming Bowens Mills a "Michigan Historical Site". It was opened for tours several times over the 7 years of their ownership.
In the fall of 1978 Neal and Marion Cook bought the mill and began the restoration project. As the saying goes, "the worse use is no use". The mill had set more or less idle for over 30 years, the water power and grindstones had not been used for nearly 40 years, some of the foundations were crumbling, various timbers were decaying and time had taken its toll. Today thanks Marion and Neal Cook with the help of family and friends and many years of work, all four levels of the mill have been restored. The old mill is now a living museum dedicated to the early pioneers of Barry County and their ingenuity. The main floor is open to the public by appointment May through August. "It’s Cider Time Festivals" begin the second weekend in September and run through the end of October. At this time the mill and its grounds come alive as the past lives again. Old time demonstrations, Civil War camps, live old time music, costumed craftsmen, and blacksmiths are just a sampling of the exciting things that are happening through the fall fund raising season.
In the lower level there is the power section along with a blacksmith shop and water powered machine shop. This area is open on festival days. The main floor is open to the public and is a museum with artifacts from the 1800’s and houses the grist and cider mills. Folks are amazed to see the water rush through the massive turbine as the grindstones slowly turn, and golden kernels of corn are transformed into fresh cornmeal, which is still for sale. Every weekend in the fall the huge old cider press is put into action and bushels and bushels of apples become gallons and gallons of cider in just moments.
The former grain storage and workshop on the third level have been transformed from a rustic sprawling area, to a cozy home by Neal and Marion Cook in 1978, where now the second generation millers Owen Sabin and Carleen Sabin live. Many of the old beams have been left exposed, which adds a handsome richness throughout the living quarters. Marion hand stenciled the walls, a wood stove and the grain elevator shafts add to the quaintness.
The Fourth level is a recreation of the old workshop along with a cobblers shop. Many of the huge gears and much of the ancient machinery still remain intact and can be seen when this floor is open for tours.
In the old days, a trip to the mill was a big event. It gave the folks a chance to meet friends they hadn’t seen for a long time and to catch up on all the latest news, as they waited for their turn to come up. People now come from miles around, to see and feel the way things were done by their ancestors in the days gone by. 
Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.  Proverbs 22:28
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The 19 acre Historical Park now consists of :
●  1864 Grist & Cider Mill The antiquated four-story building’s main floor houses a working Water Powered Cider Mill
● 1840’s two story Plank House, the oldest house in Bowens Mills
●   1850’s One Room School House, moved to the mill, the oldest one room school house in Barry County
●  1860’s 11 room Victorian House built by the Bowens
●   A Post & Beam Barn, home of Belgian Draft Horses and many other farm animals.
●   A Quaint Covered Bridge crosses the Old Mill Stream
●   17 foot Water Wheel completed in 1999
● “Ye Ole Craft Shoppe” an artisans woodworking and coopers shop
●  “The Bowens Mills Gathering Place” a huge Arts & Entertainment Center for             displays, social events, meetings, conferences, & performances plus a Gift and Antique Shop 
●  “Fork River Trappers Trading Post” A Log Cabin that was completed in 2002
●  "Granny's Kitchen" Restaurant prepares Hot Apple Dumplings with Ice Cream, warm Donuts, Chili, Hot Dogs, Baked Beans, Potato Salad and drinks.  Cider by the glass or by the gallon are also obtainable.
●  "The Saw Millers Cabin" down by the Old Mill Stream
●  "Line Camp Cabin" located near the "Trappers Trading Post
Celebration of Spring : The third Saturday in April Live Baby Animals, Horse Drawn Rides and Spring Photos Open - noon to 5 (no admission fee to Gathering Place) Admission to the Park $5.00 adults and $3.00 children 12 and under.
 
Saturdays & Sundays Noon to 5 pm
 
3 Great Festival Weekends of Old Fashioned Family Fun that include: First Cider Pressing, Steam & Gasoline Engine Show, Mountain Men Encampment, & Civil War Days.
End of Sept. thru Mid Oct. - Gate Fee $5 adults $3 Children 12 and under
 
It's Christmas at the Mill: (no admission fee o the Gathering Place)
Opens after Thanksgiving Sat. & Sun. till Christmas with Fresh Cut Trees, Photos with Santa and Horse Drawn Hay Rides. (Free Family Rides with purchase of Christmas Tree) We are into making family memories here at Historic Bowens Mills and we hope that you will join us.

 School and Group Tours with horse drawn rides are also available. (Group Leaders, Teachers, and Clubs may call for special tour arrangements.)  Historic Bowens Mills also offers private parties, family gatherings and small group tours, the opportunity to create your own “Choose your Adventure” package. Your package can include choices of wonderful memories like horse drawn rides or snacks by the fire, along with some of your own ideas to make your party or event "personalized" and of your own special choosing. Wedding packages, Company Picnics, Family Gatherings are also available.  Meetings and private parties are offered on the grounds or in any one of the historical buildings.
 
Historic Bowens Mills is an 1864 Grist Mill and Cider Mill.  It is a working museum that still grinds and sells fresh corn meal through the use of water-powered mill stones.  It is a second generation family-owned and operated state historic site with no state or county funding. The restorations and upkeep depend upon It's Cider Time Festival gate fees, special events and donations. The "It’s Cider Time Festival" gate fee for adults is $5.00, Children 12 and under $3.00. Thank you for your support in helping us preserve history for future generations.
The Old & Majestic Mill is located Midway between Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo. Near Yankee Springs (Gun Lake) State Park in the heart of beautiful Yankee Springs Township, Michigan where people come often. Because - from the first explosion of colorful wildflowers in the spring to the refreshing coolness of summer to the fall extravaganza in red and gold to the stark beauty of snow-covered trees in the winter - each season provides visitors with a completely different pallet of awesome natural beauty.
We hope you’ll take the time to enjoy all that there is to see and to do Bowens Mills. Some find the quiet of the historical park a welcome respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Others draw energy and inspiration from the outdoor experience. But all who come here are enriched in some way by the magnificent beauty of nature and history when they visit.