History

Milan was founded in 1816 as Merry's Mill, after Ebenezzer Merry who settled here and built a flour and sawmill. In 1839, the completion of the man-made canal linking Milan to the Huron River launched a trade boom. At one time, Milan's wheat export volume ranked second only to Odessa, Russia with out two million dollars worth of commodities exported in 1847. Canal usage was eventually replaced by the railroad, and when a flood destroyed the dam, the canal was never rebuilt.

Milan's history includes an era of ship building when 75 schooners up to 125 were built. It was also during this time that Milan served as the formation site of wagon trains headed West.

Milan's largest potato farmer, Isaac Hoover, invented and manufactured the "Hoover Potato Digger."

But Milan's most famous inventor was Thomas Alva Edison. Born February 11, 1847 in the home now open for tour, Edison spent his early childhood here. During the course of his career, Edison was granted over 1,000 patents. Of all his great inventions, it is the incandescent light to which his name is most often linked to. Milan's history is rich and varied and is still visible to today's visitor. Come spend a day and learn even more in Milan, OH.