RICHFIELD, Ohio — Within a Richfield public park you’ll see what inventor James Kirby, of Kirby Vacuum cleaner fame, left behind at his former home. Along with his house, a man-made lake, so he could enjoy fishing. And a mill, which was his workshop.
"Back in 1920, out in rural Richfield, he was the first one to make electricity for his workshop and his house," said Joanie Gottschling, a volunteer with the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve.
Kirby’s Mill is an overshoot mill, requiring only a trickle of water run over the top, to turn the large wheel that was connected to a generator. The hub of the wheel is balanced on ball bearings, which Gottschling has a theory about.
"We attribute that to the fact that he loved to play marbles as a kid," Gottschling said. "As an inventor, he probably thought, 'Marbles... wheel. I'll make a go-around easier.'"
The 336-acre park, originally the Oviatt family farm, was purchased by Kirby. In the 1930’s he sold the land to the Cleveland Girl Scouts, who turned it into a camp. Called Camp Julia Crowell and later renamed Camp Crowell-Hilaka. The mill served as an arts and crafts studio and later a museum. After the Girl Scouts decided to sell the property, it was transformed into a public park.
"They created the Richfield Joint Recreation District," Gottschling explained. "Five people from each township and village worked together and put a levy on. And amazingly, the levy passed. The people bought the property, and now it’s a public park."
Kirby, who was also the inventor of the washing machine's spin cycle and held a patent for his lake's silt-filtering system, was known as a humble and practical inventor. Gottschling recalled that he often looked for ways to improve everyday things.
Kirby invented the spin cycle for the washing machine. Even his lake had a patent on the way it filters out silt. Gottschling said that he often looked for ways to improve everyday things.
"He was just an unassuming guy, but he would look at something and figure out a better way of doing it," Gottschling said.
One of Kirby’s innovations was just for fun, putting a dance hall floor on springs.
“When he had his company picnics here, he invited the people from Richfield on Friday nights. And they danced. The floor would squeak and bounce,” explained Gottschling. “It was so much fun.”
The restoration of Kirby's Mill has been ongoing for several years, thanks to the efforts of the Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve. The group has replaced windows, restored the mill wheel using white oak, and is now finishing up work on the building's back balcony. It’s estimated that the project is about 75% complete.
"The ultimate goal is to have a museum in the bottom showing how electricity is made with a generator," Gottschling said. "We could have students come in and see the history of not only Mr. Kirby, but also the mill, and how electricity is made."
A science lesson within nature, to inspire the next generation, we think James Kirby would approve.
The Friends of Richfield Heritage Preserve are currently seeking donations to complete the restoration efforts, and Gottschling hopes an engineering firm will step in to help with the eclectic generator.