Fall Creek Mill

"Fall Creek mill, one of the oldest landmarks in Tompkins County, is doomed.
Sale of the building on Lake Street, just south of the Fall Creek bridge, to Floyd D. Poyer of Ithaca R. D. 3 was announced by Cornell University officials today.
Under the terms of the sale the old mill must be demolished immediately to make way for the beautifying of this spot made famous by the construction of an underground tunnel through solid rock by Ezra Cornell, founder of the university.
The history of the old mill dates back to May 26, 1813 when Phineas Bennett purchased 170 acres of land on the south side of Fall Creek and bordering Ithaca Falls. A mill was built and waters from the falls carried to the wheel in a wooden flume framed into the rock along the south side of the stream.
After several years during which the property changed hands several times and other mills were erected along the creek bank. Jeremiah S. Beebe purchased of David Woodcock the 125 acres of land which included the grist mill. This transaction was made on Nov. 9, 1827.
Mr. Beebe continued to operate the grist mill without alterations until 1830, when he entirely rebuilt it and engaged Ezra Cornell to run it. In the following year he began the construction of the historic tunnel.
That, then remarkable engineering project, was carried forward under Mr. Cornell's direction and completed in the summer of 1832. It was cut from the rock, about 200 feet in length, 12 feet wide and 13 feet high, and was built for the small cost of $2,000. A dam was built above the tunnel from which the water flowed through the tunnel and then through an open raceway to the mill. The old flume was abandoned.
On Dec. 1, 1838, Horace Mack of the firm of Mack and Ferris, and John James Speed of Caroline, purchased the Beebe grist mill and power for $26,000. They carried it on only one year when Mr. Mack conveyed his interest in the mill to Chauncey Pratt and Chauncey L. Grant.
In 1840 the Ithaca Falls Woolen Company purchased the property and enlarged the mill, making the building five stories high. After several years of business reverses the building was destroyed by fire in 1851.
In 1854 Henry S, Walbridge became owner of the property and built the present mill on the old foundation. He failed in business and the property passed to possession of A. M. Hull, who organized the Fall Creek Milling Company.
The property was purchased several months ago by Cornell University and plans were immediately begun to beautify the site in memory of the university founder. The sale of the building and its removal will be the first steps in these plans.

"Razing Fall Creek Mill, Ithaca Historic Landmark; Cornell Beautifying Site," Ithaca Journal, September 11, 1931, 5.

"The work of beautifying Ithaca gorges under the fund left to Cornell by the late Col. Henry W. Sackett for that purpose has reached a new development in landscaping at the foot of Ithaca Falls.
Razing the old Fall Creek Mill not only opened up a new vista of the picturesque falls, pleasing to motorists approaching on East Falls Street, but made possible an extension of the scenic improvement program which is being carried out in the two campus gorges by C. R. Cooley, landscape architect with the University Department of Buildings and Grounds.
Where stood the historic but unsightly Fall Creek Mill, those who pass are now becoming aware of a pleasant little park more in keeping with the environment of the falls. The space has been graded for planting, and is set off by low copings of native stone masonry.
Older inhabitants remember the old Fall Creek Milling Company, owned by A. M. Hull, a mill which ground out Hill's Superlative, reputed to be the finest flour in this part of the state. Mr. Hull had purchased the mill from H.C. Walbridge, who erected the building in 1854. Since Mr. Hull's retirement, the building and grounds had fallen into decadence...."

"View of Ithaca Falls Gains Beautify from Landscape Work On Site of Fall Creek Mill," Ithaca Journal, August 17, 1932, 5.