The old Kirk barn, located in Rockton, Union Township, still stands as a reminder of the thriving milling industry from the early days of the community.
Three water-powered mills were located along Anderson Creek – a lumber mill, a grist mill and a woolen mill. This section of the community was then known as owe Rockton or Johnson’s Mills.
Jason Kirk of Lumber City began his milling activities on Anderson Creek around 1837 until later moving his businesses to the nearby area, then known as Upper Rockton. Those later mills were powered by steam engines.
The surviving barn, shown in the 2006 photo, is the second one built on the site to replace the first one, which was destroyed by fire.
The buckwheat flour produced in Rockton was sold nationwide. The grinding mill was removed years ago and its unique French stone burrs were purchased by a local county resident.
The barn was later used as both a shingle and a lumber planing mill.