In 1850, the mill in Baltic began making flour and grinding other grain for area farmers. A fire leveled the mill in 1908, briefly haulting its operation, but in a period of 120 days, Amish craftsmen rebuilt the mill.
The mill shut down in 1964, but 30 years later, Alvin and Esther Miller purchased it, and the grinding continued! Although the steam engine that once powered the mill is still there, on display, all the products produced are still stone ground.
"We felt we could help the community by starting up the mill again," Alvin said. "And we wanted to bring back memories of the 'good ol' days' and show people how things used to be."
The Millers (what an appropriate name!) oversee the grinding of whole-grain flour, corn meal, buckwheat flour and spelt products. If you dont know what spelt is, don't feel bad; neither did I ... until Alvin explained it. Spelt was the first grain planted in American soil. It is a non-gluten grain. Gluten is a collection of proteins found in wheat and other cereal grains. Unfortunately, these can be a serious health problem for some people. Celiac Disease is the best-recognized form of a gluten allergy. Baltic Mills provides many options in gluten-free flours and pastas.
"We have bulk food, gifts, crafts and ... well ... something for everyone," Alvin said.
So I looked around to see just what the mill offered. The bulk food section is in the front of the brick-walled, wooden-beamed establishment. I began to write down a list of what I saw, and soon I had two pages of notes!
I found a great array of bulk spices, including whole nutmeg (my grandmother always used these, and now I do too, mainly because of the wonderful aroma that comes when you grate your own) and whole peppercorns. If you use a lot of certain spices, buying in bulk really saves money.
Next, I saw Ohio-made maple syrup, an array of sugar-free products, honey, candy and the cutest little colorful bags filled with various mixes to give as gifts (the chocolate-chip cookie mix was in a bag that looked like a chocolate chip cookie, etc.). There was a full rack of muffin mixes (including honey bran, blueberry and oat bran), pancake mixes (including three-grain, blueberry, buckwheat, apple-cinnamon and corn-meal) and granola (in small, medium and giant quantities).
There were shelves of bulk gelatin in a rainbow of colors, breakfast cereals, pudding mixes, salts, oils, cocoa, coconut (both regular and toasted) and oatmeal. I also found mixes for angel-food cake, cheesecake, pie crusts, pecan pie and frostings. There were bags of colorful bean mixes, bran, millet, bulger wheat, nuts and dried fruits (including dried cherries).
I've seen Amish recipes calling for "runion mix," and finally I found some at the mill. It is used as a coating mixture for meats and other foods. You can also purchase bulk soup (onion, broccoli, potato and chicken noodle) and gravy mixes.
Baltic Mills has a wonderful supply of candy-making products. Extracts come in a wide variety (including root beer, butter, butter pecan, caramel, pineapple and rum). I found candy melting wafers, food coloring and nearly every color of candy sprinkles.
Bulk snacks, including potato chips, pretzels, party mix, banana chips and popcorn (with many varieties of seasoned salt) are available at the mill.
If you're a "from-scratch baker," as I am, you'll be in heaven at the mill. There is a large selection of sugars (including raw, white, brown and powdered) and fructose, flours (rice, rye, oat, soy, potato, wheat, cracked wheat, softex, seven-grain and barley, to name a few) and wheat germ. Ready-made fruit and cream fillings are just waiting to be added to your pies, cream sticks, fry pies and turnovers. There are also mixes for bread machines.
Are you getting hungry yet? Well, let me tempt you with a variety of baking chips: chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, peanut butter, butter pecan, cherry and carob! Marshmallows (big, little and tiny), jams and jellies, apple butter, pickles, black strap molasses and sorghum, and stick candy are available, too.
Corn meal comes in whole kernel, toasted and white, plus the mill sells corn flour and grits ... yes, even here in the North! You'll also find all kinds of noodles, sauces, cheese and eggs.
The gift and craft sections of the mill are filled with wonderful items, some common and some rare. There is a nice selection of baskets, kitchen ware (including towels, pot holders, place mats and dish cloths), Amish Country tee shirts and sweatshirts, mugs and cups and saucers, candles and wax melts, socks (many in crazy patterns), wind chimes (very large and very small), rag rugs, bird houses and stepping stones. A large variety of garden flags and framed quilt patches are also available. Men will be interested in the John Deere items and sports paraphernalia (including Ohio State Buckeyes, the Indians and the Browns).
Service at Baltic Mills is warm and personal. While I was there, a couple was visiting from Michigan, and they were very impressed with the help they received from a young female clerk. If you can't find something, be sure to ask, and someone will help you.
Alvin and Esther want to be sure both their out-of-town visitors and their local customers get good service. My trip to the mill was the week before Easter. As I was browsing, a local man was getting his order rung up, and Alvin asked, "And do you have enough eggs? You've gotta' have eggs this week!"
Also, if you can't get to the mill, they'll be happy to send your order to you.
On your next trip to Amish Country, be sure to make a visit to Baltic Mills. The village of Baltic is just six miles south of Sugarcreek on State Route 93. Turn west at the blinking light, and you'll find the mill on your left. It's like turning back the clock to those "good ol' days" Alvin talked about. And while you're at the mill, be sure to tell him you read this in Amish Heartland magazine!
Baltic Mills 111 Main St., Baltic OH 43804, (330) 897-0522; hours: Mon.-Sat., 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.; bus parking available.