National Register of Historic Places

Jolly Mill

Pierce City, Newton County, Missouri
Listed
October 12, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83004021

About this property

Jolly Mill was built on Capps Creek at Jollification, Berwick Township, Newton County, Missouri, United States in 1848 by Thomas Isbell and his son John to serve as a whiskey distillery. Jolly Mill was named for the local Jolly family. The mill also served as a grist mill, and continued to operate in that capacity until 1975. Due to the flood in late December 2015, the park was heavily damaged. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. The success of the mill led to the establishment in the 1850s and subsequent growth of the town of Jollification, the name referring to the unnaturally jovial disposition of the people who worked in and around the distillery. The town was burned during the Civil War, but the mill survived. The town was somewhat rebuilt. In 1870, the railroad bypassed what was left of Jollification, which ultimately led to its dissolution. The mill was purchased in 1983 by The Friends of Jolly Mill and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In recent years, under the care of The Friends of Jolly Mill, the mill has undergone somewhat of a renaissance. The mill and surrounding land have been restored and converted into a park, with many period buildings moved in from other locations in an attempt to replicate the look and feel of the town of Jollification. The mill is also a primary trout-fishing location, managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation as Capps Creek White Ribbon Trout Area. Four miles of trout stream are stocked with rainbow and brown trout periodically, and fishermen are permitted to harvest up to 4 trout per day.

Location

Pierce City, Newton County, Missouri
36.89725, -94.07182

Categories

INDUSTRYEXPLORATION/SETTLEMENTARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Lawrence County Bank Building
Industrial
5 mi
Pierce City Fire Station, Courthouse and Jail
Industrial
5.1 mi
Ritchey, Mathew H., House
Industrial
6.3 mi
First Battle of Newtonia Historic District
Civil War
6.3 mi
Second Battle of Newtonia Site
Civil War
6.9 mi

Nearby Battles

Price's Raid: Newtonia Pursuit (Newton County)
1864Civil War
2 mi
Newtonia Second Battle (October 1864)
1864Civil War
2.1 mi
Newtonia First Battle (September–October 1862)
1862Civil War
2.1 mi

Questions about this property

When was Jolly Mill listed on the National Register?

Jolly Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 12, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Jolly Mill?

Jolly Mill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Jolly Mill?

The period of significance for Jolly Mill is recorded as the industrial era.

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