Mad RIver Pulp & Paper

I’ve haven’t been to Carillon for a year or two. In the past I visited regularly and took lots of photos. I thought it would be fun to get to know the place again and take some new photos. Thought I’d start with their new paper mill exhibit.

I knew that this region was one of the country’s most important paper manufacturing areas. I assumed that was because of the availability of inexpensive wood, but that’s not it. Early mills made paper out of rags.

The rags were put into a tub of water and then beat to a pulp. A screen was put into the vat to collect some of the pulp. Then it was dried and eventually pressed to make paper sheets. The sheets were hung from the ceiling until they were dry enough to sell.

I think the reason this area became a leading paper manufacturer was because of the area’s water. There was waterpower to beat rags to a pulp and water gave access to markets via the rivers and canals. Later, as the importance of waterpower and water transportation declined, the area still had an important asset – a workforce that understood paper making.

The new Paper Mill is next to the Marie Aull Tribute Garden, which reminded me that I have personally benefited from Dayton’s early papermaking history. Marie’s husband owned a very successful business, Aull Brothers Paper and Box Company. The profits from that business allowed them to own property north of Dayton. Marie Aull was an avid environmentalist and her expertise, and her gifts of land and money, gave us two of my favorite Dayton places, Aullwood Garden MetroPark and Aullwood Audubon Center and Farm.