From Grist Mill to Grill 🌽

Two hundred years ago, fresh sweet corn wasn’t headed for the backyard barbecue.

Instead, much of it would have been dried and taken to a grist mill, where it was ground into cornmeal for cornbread, hoecakes, mush, and other everyday meals.

In 1816, John James Audubon built Henderson’s famous steam-powered saw and grist mill along the Ohio River. Farmers brought their grain there to be processed, hoping to turn a season’s harvest into food for their families. Although the business ultimately failed because there wasn’t enough wheat to make it profitable, the mill remains one of Henderson’s more fascinating stories.

Today, the mill is gone, but its site lives on as Audubon Mill Park, a reminder of one of Henderson’s earliest industrial ventures and the legacy of the man whose name is still woven throughout our community.

Today, the name Audubon still helps nourish our community, not through a grist mill, but through organizations like Audubon Kids Zone, investing in children and families.

The corn may no longer be headed to the mill… but it’s still bringing our community together. 🌽

If you want to celebrate Henderson’s tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, consider making a donation to Audubon Kids Zone. Just as generations before us shared the fruits of their harvest, we can help ensure today’s children have the opportunity to flourish.