Crafting Innovation, Coating History.

The Champion Coated Paper Company began in 1894 with just nine employees under Peter G. Thomson, a Cincinnati businessman and former children’s book publisher. Thomson had bought 187 acres west of the Great Miami River to build subdivisions, but when a recession hit, he repurposed part of the land along North B Street to build a paper coating plant. The facility coated paper made by other Hamilton mills, planting the seeds of a lasting industrial legacy.

By 1900, Thomson had expanded the original plant five times. A fire in 1901 destroyed the coating mill, but he rebuilt it and added a new mill, later known as Mill 1, to experiment with emerging technologies. Growth continued with Mill 2 in 1906, producing uncoated paper, and the Champion Fibre Company in 1908, securing pulp from land that would one day become part of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

By 1910, the mills covered 27 acres and were the largest in the world for coated paper. Even the Great Flood of 1913 couldn’t stop progress; both mills were rebuilt within three months. The 1920s brought more  expansion, including an advertising office, a research building, and the “White House” executive offices, reflecting a company invested in both innovation and leadership.

Champion thrived through World War II with government contracts and continued evolving through mergers and restructurings. International Paper acquired the company in 2001, and the historic mill closed in 2011.

In 2018, restoration began, transforming it into Spooky Nook Champion Mill and giving new life to a site defined by resilience, innovation, and ambition.

About the Founder: Peter G. Thomson

Peter G. Thomson (1851–1931) was a pioneering Cincinnati businessman whose vision and entrepreneurial spirit helped shape the American paper industry. Before founding the Champion Coated Paper Company in 1894, Thomson had a background in bookselling and publishing, particularly children’s books, which gave him a deep understanding of the growing demand for quality paper products. Under his leadership, Champion Paper started with just nine employees but quickly grew into a respected manufacturer of coated papers, known for both innovation and high standards. Thomson’s foresight in combining business acumen with a commitment to quality laid the foundation for what would become one of the region’s most enduring industrial legacies.

Beyond his business ventures, Thomson was a figure who embodied the industrious spirit of late 19th-century America. He recognized the importance of community and workforce development, fostering a culture of diligence and pride among his employees. Through Champion Paper, he not only contributed to the local economy of Hamilton, Ohio, but also helped establish the city as a hub of industrial growth and innovation.

Restoring a Namesake

Champion Coated Paper Co. played a defining role in shaping Hamilton’s identity and economic strength for generations. As one of the city’s largest employers, it provided stable jobs, fostered innovation in the paper industry, and attracted families who built their lives around the mill. Its presence helped fuel local businesses, support community growth, and anchor Hamilton, Ohio as a regional industrial hub. Even today, the company’s legacy continues to influence the city’s culture and pride, making its eventual closure all the more impactful.

North B Street rolled out its last paper in 2012 after the sale to International Paper and shook the entire community. The massive mill – once the world’s largest producer of coated paper and home to over 4,000 employees – was suddenly quiet and empty. For years, Hamilton residents drove past large dilapidated buildings with broken windows, graffiti, and no hope in sight.

With their success in Pennsylvania, the Beilers set their sights on a second location – one where they could breathe new life into an abandoned structure. The former paper mill was the perfect fit. Now transformed into Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill, Champion Mill Conference Center, and the Warehouse Hotel, the restored buildings fuel new growth for Hamilton while honoring the history that came before them. As visitors explore the campus, they’ll find echoes of the past woven into every corner – original architectural details, thoughtfully displayed historic memorabilia, and even the iconic yellow paper crane standing as a tribute to the mill’s legacy.