History of Centerville Mills

One of the earliest settlements in the Western Reserve is a place to which hundreds of campers gather each year, seeking an experience and an adventure away from the city streets and back to the lush and verdant country reminiscent of wild and unspoiled areas of the Canadian north woods.  Located only 25 miles from the center of the city, along the trail traveled by settlers in the early 1800s between Painesville and Chillicothe, the state's first capital, Centerville Mills is now surrounded by burgeoning suburban growth.  However, many fortunate campers will still find in its 160 acres, a stretch of land much as the first settlers knew it.

Centerville Mills became part of the YMCA in 1901 but its history dates back to 1812 when John Jackson, a wool carder, came on horseback from his home in Massachusetts looking for a water site.  It was summer then and he was captivated by the beauty of "Centreville" as it was spelled then.  He stayed until fall when he returned to New England.  He planned to teach a term of school for funds to use for purchasing land on both sides of the stream.  On his return, he built a log house which was later replaced by the house formerly inhabited by C.J. Kessler.  This home was formerly the resident of Mrs. Jeannette Jackson Hanna, a direct descendent of John Jackson.  A private cemetery located on a knoll adjacent to this house is where John Jackson was buried in response to his own request.  Near this burial ground the home of the late Chester Lewis still stands with the sound of the waterfall that meant so much to the Jackson family.

Many of the first settlers' homes remain here at Centerville Mills.  The house across from the lake, once the home of caretaker Tony Piotrowski, was the miller's house.  Across from the camp entrance was the large farm and home of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson who lived there as did their parents and grandparents over a period of 100 years.  The house remains but the cornfields are now replaced by a development of new homes.

The old mill, the center of the community's activities, was built twice by Freeman Howard.  When the first mill burned, he rebuilt it.  Ox carts brought wheat to be ground and later when dairying became popular this area came to be called "Cheesedom."  Logs were also brought to be made into lumber at the sawmill.  There was also a blacksmith shop and rake factory.  The power was provided by the swift running stream and the natural dam of rocks that one can still see today.  In 1932 the old red mill was dismantled. The wood was used at Centerville's workshop.

Timeline of Events

• 1898  The Cleveland YMCA first started making educational trips and some short term camping.
• 1902  First residence camp started and called Centerville Mills Camp.
• 1924  Log Cabin erected at Centerville Mills.  Cabin was built in 1918 in Parma as a "Y in the Woods."  It was dismantled and taken to Centerville on its present site.
• 1932  The Old Red Mill built by Freeman Howard was torn down.  It had become a hazard as the boys swung from its rafters above the deep drop into the rushing stream.
• 1933   Dining Hall built at Centerville Mills with funds from Fisher Family.
• 1934  Two Memorial Cabins were built by the Lakewood Branch Y at Centerville Mills Camp in memory of Wm. J. Ellenberger, A.E. Harris, George E. Jackman, George A. Kelsey, C.P. Lynch and E.A. Weigand.
• 1935  Knirk Memorial Dispensary was built at Centerville Mills in memory of Carl F. Knirk of Lakewood YMCA.
• 1938   North Woods Camp established on Lake Temagami in Ontario, Canada.
• 1939  Pool was built at Centerville Mills.
• 1941  American Legion and Cleveland Metropolitan Park Board turn over River Road Camp to the YMCA.  Operation started in 1942.
• 1941  Craft Shop at Centerville Mills Camp constructed.
• 1950  Tennis court was built at Centerville by Vernon Stouffer.
• 1952  Chapel at Centerville Mills Camp constructed.  It was dedicated July 22, 1953.
• 1952  Introduction of Outdoor Education Program with South Euclid-Lyndhurst School System.  Two weeks of camp for elementary school children at River Road
• 1955  White House and pool rebuilt by Navy Seabees.
• 1955  Island lodge near Pointe au Bauril, Ontario, Canada, presented to Euclid Branch by the estate of J.E. Rogers.  Euclid Brand established it as a family camp and named it Wakonda Lodge.
• 1956  Site purchased and facilities erected to establish M.D. Crackel Day Camp for Branch usage.
• 1957  Kerruish was donated by the Roermers.  It was 110 acres located between Pettibone Road and Rt. 306 and used for wilderness camping.
• 1958  Rolling Y Ranch Camp is established in Carrollton, Ohio.
• 1958  Cattle barn built at Rolling Y to house short-horn cattle presented to the YMCA by Cyrus Eaton.
• 1959  Bunk house built at Rolling Y to house more campers than old ranch house.
• 1961    Rankin Taplin property is presented to Camps Branch Board by Alfred Rankin and Frank Taplin.  Development of three small lakes, outdoor toilet facilities, parking lot, floodlights, and reroofing is begun.
• 1961  School camping began at Centerville.
• 1961  Paul W. Walter Lodge constructed at North Woods Camp.
• 1964  Dining Hall and bunk houses built at Rolling Y.
• 1964  A-Frame cabins and dispensary constructed on Burnt Island,  North Woods.
• 1966   Obstacle course constructed at River Road Camp marking the beginning of YMCA Sports Fitness Camp.
• 1966  Third bunk house constructed at Rolling Y Ranch.
• 1967  A-Frame cabins constructed on Kist Island, North Woods.
• 1969  Y's Men's Lodge built for recreational programs at Rolling Y Ranch.
• 1969  Local 18, International Union of the Operating Engineers drained the lake at Centerville and rebuilt it through an extensive project completed in 1970.
• 1969  Wakonda was sold
• 1969   Camps Branch disbanded.  Camping Services were placed under the Metropolitan Program Office
• 1970  Pole barn built at Rolling Y Ranch.
• 1971  Day Camp Pavilion at Rankin Taplin built by Hillcrest Branch Y's men.
• 1972    Last year for summer camp programs at North Woods camp.
• 1973  New building constructed at Rolling Y out-trip site, Rustler's Roost.
• 1973  Ladies Fitness Camp was held at River Road.
• 1975  Dispensary constructed at Rolling Y Ranch Camp.
• 1975  Craft building at Centerville burned down.
• 1976  New all-purpose Handicraft Lodge constructed at Centerville Mills.
• 1976  North Woods property sold by Cleveland YMCA.
• 1977  Rankin Lodge remodeled and new dining room added.
• 1985  Rankin sold.
• 1986  Litchfield property in Canada donated.
• 1988  Child Care Building established at Centerville.
• 1989  Piotrowski Conference Center built at Centerville Mills.
• 1990  Litchfield property sold.
• 1990  Day Camp Pavilion build at Centerville.
• 1994  Day Camp pavilion remodeled for Teen Center at Centerville.
• 1994  M.D. Crackel acreage sold at Centerville Mills.
• 1994  Facilities at Centerville Mills updated for disabled people.
• 1995  Centerville Mills Camp acquired gorge and ravine below and beyond the waterfall.
• 1995  New maintenance shop built at Centerville Mills.
• 1995 Built new Equestrian Center at Centerville Mills.
• 1996  Sold Rolling Y Ranch.  Moved horse program to Centerville.
• 1996  Horse shelters built at Centerville Mills Camp.
• 1997  Charles R. Ault Equestrian Center dedicated at Centerville Mills Camp on July 19th.
• 2002 Centerville Mills builds high ropes course and adds heating system to its outdoor pool.
• November 2002 Press reports indicate that camp staff will be terminated effective December 31.  The YMCA of Greater Cleveland indicates that a proposal contemplates closing the residential portion of the camp, but that the proposal does not involve selling the camp.  Members of the YMCA's camp advisory board report that the Y had not asked it for assistance, nor called a meeting during 2002.
• Many hundreds of Y constituents offer to help save camping operations. Save the Centerville Mills Experience is founded.
• December 2002 YMCA of Greater Cleveland announces that it plans to sell the Centerville Mills camp, but expresses a desire to maintain the Y camping experience.
• January 2003 The Chagrin Valley Land Conservatory purchases Centerville Mills to protect the property from turning into housing development.
• Late 2003/2004 Bainbridge Township purchases the land from the CVLC.
• January 2007 Local resident and founder of the Centerville Mills Project, Travis Newton, contacts local trustees in efforts of restoring the camp.
• Trustees appear to have no intrest & help is saught from Congressman Steve LaTourette's office.
• Future 2008 and beyond is anyone's guess. Help preserve Centerville Mills and bring camping back!