Sunnyside and White's Mills - Ghost Towns

Often the old newspapers carried the news from area localities whose names are foreign to us, but the little crossroads were important in their time.  Today, we see no trace of what was there, but occasionally, through historical writings, we get a peek into what once was.  Even though Sunnyside was in Paulding County, its newsy gossip appeared in the Defiance Democrat.

WHITE'S MILLS

"...we'll state that White's Mills is situated six miles west of Defiance.  The B & O railroad and Ft. Wayne wagon road (old route 24) form a junction at the Mills.

There is a fine hotel near the junction, The Eldorado House, and Landlord Friend is always on deck for business.  There are several other business places, such as hoop shaving shop, two saw mills.  We have a large school house, frame structure.  The school is now being taugh by Miss Grace Brady of the city.

Our little city is not blessed with a church.  Perhaps if it was, there would not be so much Sunday work going on, such as sawing stove wood, making farm gates, repairing hog pens, hammering in the barn, etc.  Then we have another class, the moralists, who stay in on the Lord's Day, read the newspapers, eat popcorn, and drink hard cider." 

SUNNYSIDE / WEST SUNNYSIDE

(Paulding County) 

"West Sunnyside is situated five miles southwest of the Mills.  It is a nice little place.  They have one notion and grocery store that is doing a good business.  Mart Rose is the proprietor.  

They have a railroad.  The Wabash passes through their burg, one sawmill and the mill is operating in that place.

They are not blessed with a church.  They are like the Mills in that respect.  But when they deem in advisable to hold church, they hold services in the Bulhard's school house which is situated across the street from the store.  

They have a fine farming country around and about West Sunnyside.  We'll venture to say the garden of Paulding county."

Defiance Democrat - December 1899  

For more information on other towns in Defiance County, some now extinct, 
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