Patterson's New Grist Mill / Hibberd Mill
Berkeley Co. | West Virginia | USA
Watersource: Tuscarora Creek.
Patterson's New Grist Mill / Hibberd Mill
In the middle of Martinsburg, going north, turn left onto W. King Street. Turn right on Old Mill Road just prior to crossing over I-81. The mill is just past Rockledge Drive, over Tuscarora Creek on the left (light blue metal roof). The address is 200 Old Mill Road, Martinsburg.
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An earlier mill on this site was the Patterson New Grist Mill, built in the late 1700's or early 1800's. This was the second Patterson mill in the city of Martinsburg. This view is from Old Mill Road.
According to an article on " Mills of Berkley County," this Patterson mill burned in the 1830's and a new mill built by Aaron Hibberd. Hibbard Hall, the mansion southeast of the fulling mill, was built circa 1820 by Aaron Hibbard, a Quaker, on land which had been given to his wife, Martha Mendenhall, by her father James. The fulling mill circa 1810, was destroyed in 1988, and the current dwelling built on the old foundation. A large crumbling stone barn is southeast of the mansion.
In 1868, Henry Bender acquired this mill and also a saw mill. Later the mill was owned by Charles Wolford. There was a second fire and and Wolford tore down the burnt section and built the present building on the old mill foundation. Some of the beams in the lower level show signs of the fire.
In 2012, descendants of Wolford still live in the house. There are memories of the overshot water wheel attached to the mill. To this day there is a water turbine in the basement. A great-grandson of Wolford told how he would play with the old turbine.
The 84 year old owner said that her house was the mill. She gave me her son's phone number and he informed me, that he was the one who played with the turbine as a boy, as a descendant of the Wolfords. He said he will get the mill when his mother passes; and that he has 3 children to pass it to later. Sounds good for the mill's preservation.
GPS: 39D 28.20'N, 77D 59.15'W ele 495'/151 meters Frederick Quadrangle