The Collegian

Issue date: 4/3/08 Section: Focus

Just past Family Video on Michigan-99 stands a gargantuan, ramshackle structure.

Stock's Mill's edifice exists as a pinnacle for Hillsdale College students to scale. That era, however, is ending, as the summit at Stock's Mill will soon close.

"That building is coming down real shortly," said Rick Roth, a realtor for Century 21 and salesman of the property.



Demolition leered over the mill for quite some time as there is little use for such buildings anymore.

"The milling business is pretty antiquated," Roth said.

The mill will be torn down by April, with 60 percent of its materials being used for scrap. Beyond that percentage, several unused buildings left standing could assist in possible business ventures, Roth said.

This demolition will not only topple the mill itself, but also an enthusiasm among students for climbing the abandoned factory during the night. Local history buff Dan Bisher said the practice probably began in 2003 following the mill's official shutdown.

Hans Zeiger '07 said a $100 fine and 10 hours of community service earned for six illegal climbs of Hillsdale College's Central Hall clock tower nearly ended his scaling escapades - until when jogging one day past the mill, Zeiger said he soon found a new peak to ascend.

"I was sufficiently frightened about returning to the bell tower, so I then turned my energies to the old Stock Mill," Zeiger said.

Junior Mark Perkins also heard about the mill, and its popularity soon spread amongst students as an exhilarating dare.

"When we first climbed, very few people had done it before and it was sort of an exclusive thing," Perkins said. "But word got out about it, and so more people started climbing."

Typical climbing groups ventured up a ladder leading to the roof, and through a tiny window, said former Hillsdale student Jed Becker.

"It was like the video game 'Doom 3,' except without the monsters and with more diseases," said Becker.

Sophomore Pascal Marillier said that besides the filth, climbers worry about outdated structural supports and abandoned junk.

"I remember climbing up sketchy-looking stairs - old, rickety, and rusty - and freezing metal ladders," said Marillier. "After that, we walked across a walkway that looked like it was made of tin."

Continued...

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