Jenny's Noodle

Franklin Cider Mill. Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

The historic Village of Franklin houses one of the most popular cider mills in the state of Michigan. The Franklin Cider Mill opens from the Saturday before Labor Day to the Sunday after Thanksgiving and I have visited every year since I can remember. Following that tradition, today was my first trip of the season.

Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

Even from the parking lot, that familiar smell of warm apples and cinnamon permeates the air. If you can avoid the bees, who seem to enjoy the food as much as the visitors, the cider mill offers a plethora of delicious homemade goodies. There's the apple cider, of course, best accompanied by warm cinnamon donuts, apples drizzled in caramel and sprinkled with nuts (shown above) and warm toasted cinnamon almonds. Other personal favorites to purchase and take home include the homemade apple bread, various fruit jams, pumpkin or apple pies, and bottles of sparkling cider.

Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

Once you've eaten and the urge to buy everything in sight slowly dissipates, it's nice to walk around and see the mill at work. From inside, you can watch the giant red water wheel spin and see the apples being pressed to make the cider. Outside, you can sit by the water or stand on a bridge and throw bits of donuts to the ducks.

There are few signs offering historical information on the grounds, but here's a bit more about the Franklin Cider Mill from their website:

In 1837, the year Michigan became a state, this mill was completed after having been under construction for about three years. The building was started by Ed W. Matthews who had come from New York, and had purchased a large tract of land around where the mill is now located. Financial difficulties made it impossible for him to finish the project. It was then purchased by Peter VanEvery who completed the building, and conducted the business of grinding grain, or exchanging flour for grain, and in general, acting as miller for an area of many miles in all directions. Peter VanEvery also had many others enterprises in and around Franklin that was then known as the Stoughton and Bullok Settlement. One of them was the Distillery, which was located across the road from the grist mill, (now the Franklin Cider Mill), and part of the old foundation is still visible there.

Photo ©Jenny's Noodle, 2010

Well, that's all until next year! . . .Oh, who am I kidding? I'll be back at the mill at least once more before the end of the season.
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FRANKLIN CIDER MILL
7450 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301 | Directions
(248) 626-2968
franklincidermill.com