The village of Smithville is located in Green Township, in the heart of Wayne County.
Its founder, Thomas Smith, came to the area in 1818 and formally laid out a plan for the town in 1831. However, this first plan had to be abandoned when the land proved too wet for settlement. A second plan was devised in 1837, and the town was incorporated as a village much later, in 1888.
Thomas Smith, for whom the village is named, mysteriously disappeared from all area records in about 1835. Family rumor holds he did something bad although no one knows what and ran away to become either a gold prospector or a riverboat captain, leaving a wife and several children. A few of Smiths children remained in Smithville, two sons operating an inn and a tannery next door to each other.
For many years, a prestigious private school operated in Smithville. Named the Smithville Academy, the school was founded in 1861 and drew students from all over Wayne County and the surrounding areas until its closing in 1903.
Today, Smithville is a thriving village of about 1,300. Area residents know the town for its excellent school system and award-winning sports programs, including the 2002 Division V State Runner-Up football team (the schools mascot is the smithie, a nod to the many blacksmiths who made their living in the area). Charming shops downtown offer everything from natural foods, antiques and crafts to dinner and a haircut. Just a little southwest of town, more shops and a large restaurant draw many visitors. Potato and dairy farms are prevalent in the surrounding areas.
Like the village, the Smithville Community Historical Society is a flourishing entity, maintaining five historic buildings in town. These are open at varying times throughout the year, and include a pioneer log cabin, an early house, a carriage barn, a fully restored blacksmith shop and the delightful Mishler Weaving Mill (pictured on these two pages).
The mill has been in almost continuous operation since 1887, when it was founded by John C. Mischler, an immigrant from Switzerland. Mischler (who dropped the c in his name soon after arriving in this country), his wife and three children had come to the United States in 1882 with only a few belongings and about $5.
At first, rag rugs were the mills primary product; later, in its full operation, it produced dish cloths, dish rags, bath towels and wash cloths. Cheese cloth was added in later years and eventually became a mainstay product. Johns son Daniel Mishler purchased the mill in 1930 and moved it down the street to its present location. After his death a local resident operated the mill until, in 1993, it was purchased by the historical society.
Today volunteers operate historic looms and other machinery some more than a century old each Wednesday from 1:30-4 p.m. Stepping inside the door, visitors are transported back in time by the sights and sounds of moving, humming and whirring machinery.
Brightly-colored rag rugs all for sale hang throughout the mill, which exudes old-world charm inside and out. Placemats, table runners, dish towels and other items are also available for sale. A self-guided tour is truly a treat, as weavers are happy to explain the varied processes of creating the one-of-a-kind fabrics wonderful souvenirs to take home from a visit to Smithville.
The Smithville Community Historical Societys buildings are open from 1-4 p.m., the second and fourth Sundays of each month from May through September. The Mishler Weaving Mill is open every Wednesday from 1:30-4 p.m. Call (330)669-9308 to arrange tours or for more information (leave a message).(Jan/Feb 2003 Edition)