Bells Mill Park (Hamilton County Park)

Established in 1853, Bells Mill was a popular meeting place for the original settlers to the Hamilton County area. Bells Mill was donated to the people of Hamilton County on June 1, 1926 and had its official opening on August 1 of that year. The mill was donated by Sarah Jane Bell ("Aunt Jen"), the wife of Jasper Newton Bell ("Uncle Jas") in memory of her family and the mill's importance to the history of the early settlement in the area. A board of trustees of Bells Mill Park was appointed by Aunt Jen to watch over and care for the park until the trustees turned it over to the Hamilton County Board of Supervisors. The board of supervisors eventually transferred management and control of the park to the Hamilton County Conservation Board, which was established in 1957.Since that time, the conservation board has maintained the park, sponsored various improvements, and updated park facilities to accommodate the changing needs of park users and campers.