Gilreath's Mill
Greenville Co. | South Carolina | USA
Watersource: Clear (Cleer) Creek, trib. of South Tyger River.
Gilreath's Mill
This mill is located on the west side of SR 101 north of Greer, between S. Mountain View and N. Rutherford Roads at 2301 SC 101.
Believed to have been built 1812-1814, but more realisticly built in 1839.
The two story frame mill, still recalling South Carolinas rual traditions, was first a corn mill. Joel Bruce built and operated the mill on his own 1801-1840 parcel of land.
It was sold to Washington Taylor in 1873, and then R.D. Gilreath both the mill in 1890.
From the National register nomination form: "An example of the production levels of the mill is found in the South Carolina Industrial Census of 1860. Owned at that time by John Heller, the mill produced 1750 pounds of cornmeal and 60 bushels of flour. Value of this annual yield was $1750 for the cornmeal and $420 for the flour."
The waterwheel was placed were it was because the stream water was not strong enough to power the wheel, so additional water was conveyed to the wheel using an earthen raceway, then a wooden one until the water rweached the wheel.
A plaque to comemmorate the mill being placed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 28, 1976 in conjunction with State of South Carolina Department of Archives and History.
The last owner and operator, c. 1890, P.D. Gilreath had his name painted on the door of the mill. Gilreath converted the mill to flour production in 1890, soon after aquiring the mill.
The mill, aside from being a source of staples, became an integral part of the econmic and social wellbeing of the area, becoming a great place for neighbors to congregate and share stories advice. GPS: 34' 58.23N, 82' 16.41W