Steve Watson, a city native, and his wife, Sally, bought the Tipp Roller Mill in 1989. By then, the days of the building as a working gristmill were long gone.
In the initial days of their ownership, the building was used for retail to sell antiques and house a country store.
After a few years, a portion of the interior was turned into a stage with seating area.
“We thought an old-time yesteryear theater would be an ideal way for people to be a part of the history,” Steve Watson said.
The roller mill’s history is intertwined with that of the community, which this year is celebrating the 175th anniversary of its founding in 1840 John Clark. He platted the town of Tippecanoe to the west of the new mill.
The mill was built by Uriah and James John along Lock 15 of the 1837 Miami-Erie Canal. Through a series of owners over several decades, it continued production of its Snowball Flour.
Under the Watsons’ ownership, the theater hosted Saturday night entertainment for some 18 years before they decided to broaden the building’s use by offering it for events such as the wedding of their son, Tyler, last year.
After that successful event, the concert schedule was moved to Thursday evenings twice monthly from June into December to free the building for weddings reunions, parties and similar activities.
“Before, you’d use it one night a week and it set empty the rest of the time. This allows us to broaden use of the building, diversify and have it more active here,” Watson said.
The building has attracted several weddings. “People like it because it is rustic, unique and less formal,” he said.
If a wedding or other event isn’t on the schedule and the opportunity for a weekend concert comes up, he said he’s more than willing to accommodate.
The response to the expanded use of the roller mill “has been totally positive,” Watson said.
“My goal from the beginning was to use history and culture to shape a stronger sense of community,” Watson said of his work with the roller mill and other downtown properties including the Hotel Gallery nearby along Main Street.
For more information on the Tipp Roller Mill, go online to www.tipprollermill.com.
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