Linney Mill
Alexander Co. | North Carolina | USA
Watersource: Rocky Creek.
Linney Mill
From Sh 115 in Iredell Co., go west on Linneys Mill Road/Sh 1598. The road changes to Sh 1446 at the Alexander County line into Gwaltneys Twp. The road now follows Rocky Creek about a half mile to the mill on the left side of Sh 1446/Linneys Mill Road.
The mill was built on the remains of the original Mayberry Mill of 1790.
The Mayberry mill was built in 1790 here by Richard Cook, who's widow married Randolph Mayberry, hence the name for the original mill. The mill dam on Rocky Creek.
Able Mayberry was the miller in 1836 and Joel Mayberry in 1856.
A view from above the dam of the long wooden flume feeding the 9' wide, 19' diameter overshot wheel. Linneys Mill Watermill & Campground, 4635 Linneys Mill Road, Union Grove, NC 28689 ph: 704-592-2075. GPS: 81 01.49W, 36 01.60N
Two of the mills grinding stones. The present mill was established by W.T.Linney in 1937. The Fitz waterwheel came from a cotton gin about 10 miles downstream and purchased by the gin operator, J.T. Jennings in 1927.
A vintage photo of the mill, date and source unknown. Some other operators of the Mayberry Mill included Saul Martin, Bovert Mayberry, S.C. Harrington, and Trish Mayberry. William Linney took over operation from his father in 1945, producing corn meal with water-powered stones. The cleaner and crimper are still run by water power, while the rest of the operation, continuing today, is electrically powered.
The mill, never very picturesque but rather more functional, along with a campground are overseen by third generation Billy (W.C.) Linney. W.C. made a contract with Cresent EMC; whereby, they would purchase excess electricity generated at the mill.