Barretts Mills (Boundary Increase)
Also known as: See Also:Barretts Mills
Why it's listed
Barretts Mills is a mill complex near Rainsboro in Highland County, Ohio, first listed in 1972 with a gristmill, covered bridge, sawmill, woolen mill and Barrett House. A 1979 amendment enlarged the boundary after rugged terrain led to the omission of two related features: the woolen mill pond and dam, and the Mercer Log House. The dam was closed at night so water could collect in the pond, then opened by day to power the mill wheel. Its face is built of large, roughly cut rectangular stones similar to the mill foundations. The log house, a one-and-a-half-story structure later covered with wood siding, was the home of Bert Mercer, who bought the gristmill in 1923 and ran it with his children until 1957. The amendment also notes that the woolen mill has since burned, leaving its stone foundation, and that the Hatfield House, an 1890s frame building, had been included by mistake.
Significance in brief: The amendment corrects the original boundary, which omitted the mill pond, dam and Mercer Log House because of rugged terrain. These features help explain the history and development of the Barrett mill complex. The pond and dam supplied power to the woolen mill, and the log house was home to a mill operator.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 79003168, listed July 24, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | On Factory Branch Creek, Rainsboro |
|---|---|
| County | Highland County |
| Listed | July 24, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79003168 |
| Resource type | District |
| Architectural style | Mill pond and dam described as utilitarian; Mercer House described as a log cabin covered with wood siding |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The woolen mill has burned and only its stone foundation remains. The dam is in poor condition and less than 50% intact; the Mercer House is in fair condition and used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 3.8 |
| Coordinates | 39.20207, -83.38711 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 79003168.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.