Named for Deacon Mills , the park sits on land that was claimed as a result of the dam being built in the 1840’s.

In 1850 John Root built a 3-story wood frame hotel on the southeastern corner of Hill Street & Mill Street named “Lake House”.  Four years later it was sold to JC (Deacon) Mills.  The hotel was at the center of village activity and its 3rd floor ballroom doubled as a courtroom and meeting hall.  Judges, who had to travel from outside the area stayed at the hotel.

During the Civil War the hotel served as the Sanitary Commission of the War Department.  Community members gathered to assist with food prep for soldiers such as horseradish which was thought to help fight against scurvy.   They also helped prepare linens by scraping lint off for use as surgical dressings.

Miss Harriet Mills “Hattie” was born in 1848.  An only child, she quickly became “the belle” of the building and was lavishly treated throughout the community.  Always dressed with flair, a lilt of aristocracy and sparkling charm she enjoyed a huge following of young people from Ripon, Berlin and areas beyond who came weekly to the hotel on Fridays to enjoy entertainment, dancing and mingling.  Many senators, a couple WI governors and other notable dignitaries always stayed at the hotel when in the area.

In 1890 it was renamed the Mills Hotel and Miss Hattie continued operating the hotel until 1907,  when, at 59 she started losing her sight.  She continued to live in one corner of the first floor of the hotel and became quite reclusive, coming out only to celebrate July 4 and Memorial Day.  By the late 1920’s the building had fallen into substantial disrepair and Miss Mills was blind.  She died in 1933 at 85.

Miss Mills created “The Band Stage on Wheels” which was stored behind the hotel.  It was a special staging area built on a wider than normal hay wagon which she loved to push down Mill Street for special performances at, what was then a pretty swampy area along the lake,  is now Deacon Mills Park.

Neighbors checked on her daily and many befriended her to ensure her safety and well-being.  Miss Mills owned significant real estate in Green Lake so many people through the years attempted to buy property from her at reduced prices.  She was a very shrewd businesswoman, giving a great deal of thought to every reason for every sale.  In the early 1930’s, through an ongoing effort by Mabel Brooks, wife of Wells Dudley Brooks, Miss Mills graciously donated the land that is now Deacon Mills Park to the village of Green Lake.

In the late 1940’s the “Starlight Stage” was envisioned by the very long time Green Lake High School band director Bob Malcolm and long time local artist Lester Williams.  Bob Malcolm wanted a permanent outdoor space for local talent to be able to perform.  The space would also offer community members interested in promoting music to be able to invite talent into the community.  Over two summers concerts were held on the lawn in various positions with the end goal to maximize the number of guests, have the least amount of late day sun glare and sun-in-the-eyes and have good acoustics.  After two seasons, the current spot was chosen and the concrete was put into place.  Mabel Brooks and her many women friends belonging to various ladies organizations in town banded together to provide fund raising efforts and quickly funds to complete the project were amassed and building got underway with the first performance in June, 1950.

In 2006 the “Starlight Stage” had fallen into significant disrepair and was slated to being torn down.  A community member, Josie Sullivan, offered to pay for the renovations needed to keep this vital piece of wonderful Green Lake history in place and in 2008 renovations were completed.  A plaque of gratitude to Ms. Sullivan remains on the side of the stage.

In 2011 a new organization in Green Lake, Green Lake Renewals, identified that the shore area of Deacon Mills Park offered an opportunity to encourage boaters to include a stop in downtown Green Lake.  A design for an elongated wharf was offered.  Through a 50/50 matching grant the group was able to see their vision become reality.  Spearheaded by Mary Jo Johnson, Mary Rowley and JoEllen Madden and advising by Joe Norton, the group raised $250,000 to assist with getting dredging done, permanent shoreline landscaping and ensured funds available for future wharf maintenance.  The group sold memorial bricks for $100 each which form the lovely walkways adjacent to the wharf.

Deacon Mills Park has played a central role as the community gathering spot year around.  Weekly from June-August every Wednesday evening there’s live, local business sponsored music.  In winter, with local business sponsored support there’s an ice skating rink for the public.