Parks Grist Mill
Washington Co. | Virginia | USA
Watersource: Fifteen Mile Creek.
Parks Grist Mill
Take exit 17 off I-81 at Abingdon. Go south on Va 75 about 3.2 miles to Parks Mill Road on the left. Turn left and go about 1.5 miles to the mill on the left.
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The original mill, built c. 1780 by Oliver Alexander, ground corn meal, oat and wheat flour.
Jasper Brown bought the mill in 1942, having purchased the mill from long time owners, 136 years, the Parks family. They operated the mill fropm 1806 into 1942.
Dave Brown, Jasper's son, operated the mill with Jasper and then alone into the 1980's.
Two of three roller mills in a row in the mill.
A 5 lb. paper sack for white, bolted, corn meal during Jasper A. Brown's operation of the mill.
The upstream dam on Fifteen Mile Creek.
The sluice box flow that supplies water to the ovewrshot wheel at the mill.
Water can be diverted just before the wheel, sending the water back into the creek.
The wheel and attached gearing as seen from above the sluice box.
The stone set and apron on the stone housing.
An old vintage photo from the early 1900's of the Parks Mill.
A similar view as the vintage photo, of todays mill.
The current owners offer freshly-milled corn meal, grits, and other products still produced with water power.
An anonymous peom entitled: "An Ode to Flour-sack Underwear (sp)".
The mill store at Parks Mill, 21405 Parks Mill Road. The old mill and surrounding buildings are now also a great source of North Carolina style B-B-Que.
The old grist mill, general store, barbecue restaurant, bed and breakfast, and garage almost make the area a self-contained community.
GPS: 36' 38.59'N, 81' 57.58'W ele. 1,811'/552 meters Abingdon Quadrangle