Historic Mill Creek Chronology

1770s Property is part of the reservation surrounding Fort Michilimackinac and used for procuring firewood.
1790 Robert Campbell establishes a sawmill and farm at Mill Creek site.
1795 Property part of land ceded to the United States by the Chippewa in the Treaty of Greenville.
1808 Robert Campbell dies. Heirs present claim to 640 acres, citing large area of improved cultivated land, sawmill, gristmill and large orchard. Known as “Private Claim 334.” John Campbell continues operations at the site.
1819 Campbell’s Mill and Farm sold to Michael Dousman.

Detail of "Survey of Lake Huron" by Lt. Henry W. Bayfield, R. N., 1819 - 1822 (British Library, London) .

1839 Mill operations cease.
1854 Michael Dousman dies.
1856 Private Claim 334 sold to William W. Wendell. The property was subdivided and portions of it sold a number of times during the remainder of the nineteenth century.
1865-1920 Limestone quarrying operations conducted on property.
1950s Property reverts to state ownership and incorporated into the Hardwood State Forest under the Depart of Natural Resources, Forestry Division.
1972 Ellis Olson discovers mill site.
1973 Archaeological work begins.

Archaeological ruin of the American Millwright's fireplace.

1975 Property transferred to Mackinac Island State Park Commission.
1984 Historic Mill Creek opened to the public.

Historic Mill Creek opens to the public in 1984 .

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