Kirby, James, Mill
Why it's listed
Tucked beside a stream at the south end of the lower lake at Camp Julia Crowell, this small wood-frame mill measures 22 by 24 feet. It has a gable roof with wide eaves, exposed rafters, cross-bracing in the end gables, and board and batten siding that changes to horizontal lap siding below the eaves. Its overshot water wheel has cypress spokes and rims and oak water buckets, and it turns on ball bearings, so even a trickle of water moves it. James Kirby, an engineer and inventor, bought the farm in 1919 and built the mill from timber cut on the site, with a local millwright named Pardee helping on the wheel. The mill generated electricity for the farm and served as Kirby's workshop, where many of his more than two hundred patented inventions were developed, including a vacuum cleaner and a wringerless washing machine. The interior remains intact, and the Lake Erie Girl Scout Council has owned the property since 1973.
Significance in brief: The mill was the hand-built workshop of James Kirby (1885-1971), an engineer and inventor who held more than two hundred patents, and many of his inventions were developed there. It also housed the first water wheel mounted on ball bearings, built to generate electricity for his farm.
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 78002197, listed December 14, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | W of West Richfield off OH 303, West Richfield |
|---|---|
| County | Summit County |
| Listed | December 14, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002197 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- (specific date 1919) |
| Architect / builder | James Kirby, Mr. Pardee |
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Invention |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good and unaltered; the interior is described as intact. The property is now used for educational and social functions by a Girl Scout council. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Camp Crowell Hilaka Historic District |
| Coordinates | 41.24069, -81.67875 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 78002197.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138749164
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.