The Harding-Jones Paper Company District is a registered

historic district A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries or jurisdictions, historic districts receive legal protection from c ...

in Excello,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, listed in the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

on May 29, 1975. A significant, early example of Ohio industry, the mill was owned by the Harding and Jones families for most of its operation. The mill, adjacent to the first lock completed on the Miami-Erie Canal, also includes two residences, a carriage house, and a canal lock.

History

A.E. Harding, a papermaker from England, cofounded Harding, Erwin & Company in 1865. When Harding's partnership with Erwin ended in 1872, the company became the Harding Paper Company. The company produced a brand of paper called Excello, which lent its name to the growing company town that formed around the paper mill.Niemel Garrard, Karen
“A.E. Harding Estate in Lemon Township.”
''Cincinnati Historic Homes'', Sanregret Team. Retrieved 19 Feb. 2019 After A.E. Harding died in 1885, his son, C.M. Harding, and son-in-law Thomas Jones became co-managers. Jones purchased the mill in 1925 and formed the Harding-Jones Paper Company, which became known for its custom-made, watermarked writing paper. The mill shuttered in 1990 due to an aging facility and outdated equipment, and the mill was demolished in 2018 after years of decay and collapse.Dykes, Todd
“Once Prosperous Butler County Paper Plant Crumbling to Ground.”
''WLWT'', WLWT Channel 5. Retrieved 18 Apr. 2017.

References

Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Ohio Historic districts in Butler County, Ohio National Register of Historic Places in Butler County, Ohio {{ButlerCountyOH-NRHP-stub

History

Further reading

References