THE
SECOND OLDEST, CONTINUOUSLY OPERATING BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF NORTHVILLE
As the Civil War ended, Benijah A. Parmenter, who had served in the U.S. Navy,
received his mustering-out pay and returned to his home town of Northville, Michigan.
Once home, he married his sweetheart, Annah, and later used his pay from the Civil
War to begin a vinegar business. Over the years, Parmenter began to produce both
vinegar and cider and then concentrated on cider alone.
Originally, the crushing of apples
for his cider and vinegar was done with a manually-operated press. In 1880,
he converted a threshing machine "engine" to operate his cider press.
Soon after, he replaced it with a steam engine to aid in his cider production.
In 1910, an electric motor - the first in Northville - was purchased and used
in a continuing attempt to modernize and make more efficient his growing cider
business. However, all of these mechanical adaptations were made to run the
standard rack and cloth press commonly associated with cider.
Benijah Parmenter died in 1921
and the business continued on with his son William A. Parmenter taking the helm.
Four generations of Parmenter's have owned and run Parmenter's Cider Mill. William's
son, Harold (known as "Cider"), began running the mill after William's
death in
1948. Later Harold's son Robert took over and continued making cider until 1967,
when for the first time in over 90 years the reins were passed on to someone
other than a Parmenter.
Vern Bodker, son of the owner and founder of the
Bodker Dairy Company, with his wife Ruth and the help of their sons, Greg
and Chris, enthusiastically took over Parmenter's, maintaining the name
and continuing the history of making good, quality cider.
In the winter of 1977, the old
mill was consumed by flames, completely destroying the historic building and
a neighboring lumber yard. The Bodker's worked diligently through
the spring and summer of 1978, erecting a new structure and equipping it with
state of the art cooling systems, stainless steel tanks and a modern press.
By fall they were making cider and their well-known donuts, not having missed
a "cider season."
The fall of 1991 brought new owners
to Parmenter's. Vern and Ruth, now ready to retire, sold their mill to sisters
Cheryl Nelson and Diane Jones and their husbands Rob Nelson and Mel Jones. Cheryl,
Rob, Diane and Mel, along with a large, supportive and involved family, continue
to operate the mill.
And so Parmenter's goes on - since 1873 - as the
second oldest, continuously operating business in the city of Northville
(the Northville Record being the oldest). It is a Michigan Historic Business
and while old, it's procedures and practices are constantly evaluated and
updated to assure that its many customers always get the quality cider,
donuts, caramel apples, and more, that they have grown to expect.
for his cider and vinegar was done with a manually-operated press. In 1880,
he converted a threshing machine "engine" to operate his cider press.
Soon after, he replaced it with a steam engine to aid in his cider production.
In 1910, an electric motor - the first in Northville - was purchased and used
in a continuing attempt to modernize and make more efficient his growing cider
business. However, all of these mechanical adaptations were made to run the
standard rack and cloth press commonly associated with cider.
1948. Later Harold's son Robert took over and continued making cider until 1967,
when for the first time in over 90 years the reins were passed on to someone
other than a Parmenter.
the spring and summer of 1978, erecting a new structure and equipping it with
state of the art cooling systems, stainless steel tanks and a modern press.
By fall they were making cider and their well-known donuts, not having missed
a "cider season."