Henry Seibert built the old grist mill and sold it to Fred Scheidell in 1841. The mill produced flour until the early 20th century, when it served as a storehouse for Italian cheese made at a local creamery.
In 1912, a fire destroyed the mill completely. Instead of the original wooden structure, Theodore Bollenbach rebuilt the new building out of concrete. It became one of the best-equipped mills in the area. Over the years, a second and a third wings were added on each side of the main building.
In the 2000s, the Art Mill became a bed and breakfast hotel known as the 5th Floor B&B. After the Briscoe Damn broke and flooded Jeffersonville, the Art Mill was placed on the market for sale.
The new mill closed sometime after. It remained boarded up for several decades until Salvatore Scalisi, an Italian artist, bought it in the early 1980s. After the interior was renovated and stone patios and gardens were built around the building, the mill became an art gallery known as the Art Mill.
John Wenk and Daniel Castellanos bought the Art Mill in 2007. A fountain was placed in the lower stone patio using the old stone. Due to the big flood after the rupture of Briscoe Damn, the first floor was in bad shape, and it was gutted. The Mill was painted, and the gardens were redone.
Although chiefly for private use, they have opened the Art Mill to the community. Small companies and single dance performers held an annual two-week dance residency every summer. Also, musicians for the Weekend of Chamber Music utilize the house as their home for two weeks. Jeff Radio Station has also used the house for holiday events and politicians for fundraising events. Over the years, writers, musicians, painters, dancers, actors, and photographers have used the Art Mill as their home for inspiration.
