Edna (Etna) Grist Mill
Charles City Co. | Virginia | USA
Watersource: Abram's Creek.
Edna (Etna) Grist Mill
From US 60 west of Providence Forge, exit at SR 106/Sr 609 and go south to its junction with Barnetts Road/Sr 609. Turn left and go to 2400 Barnetts Road. The mill will be on your right.
The present owner, in 2009, did not know the date this mill was built. He did say the mill appears to be built on the smaller foundation of a previous mill. He said he was told the first mill was built in the late 17th century. The mill sits on the property of the old Roxbury Plantation.
Across the street is the unusual 18th century miller's house, a small store (Hughes Store), a smokehouse, an outdoor kitchen, and a couple other old buildings.
The rusted overshot wheel on the offroad side of the mill. Possum Run was damed, a headrace must have continued to the mill, with a sluice box bring the water to the top of the wheel. Possum Run contiues across the road for about 3,000 to 4,000 feet, then joins the Chickahominy River.
Wooden name plate has the mill's name spelled as "Etna Mill". All other sources located have the name as Edna Mill.
The millstone set and stone crane, minus the hopper. GPS: 37 27.46N, 77 07.81W In Degrees and Decimal Minutes 46 Elevation
Feed screen for keeping the grain feeding into the hopper, usually located above and mounted on the stone set cover, which in this instance, is missing.
The unusual 18th century miller's house across the road from the mill.
Hughes Store, located directly across Sr 609 from the mill.
The present owner is trying, as best he can, to refurbish the Hughes Store, smokehouse, and other buildings.