Valley Mill
Frederick Co. | Virginia | USA
Watersource: Abrams Creek.
Valley Mill
South of crossing over US 11 at the north edge of Winchester, exit I-81 on exit 315 onto Sr 7/Berryville Pike eastward. Take the first right, Sr 659/Valley Mill Road, and go for about 3.5 miles, crossing Sr 656 to the mill on the right about 1/3rd mile short of rejoining Sr 7.
A 2.5 story brick grist mill with gable roof, approximately 45' wide x 55'long.
May have had a story removed. The former mill structure is now used now as a barn and sometimes an event center/banquets and parties.
The Mill listed as "Valley Mills" in Frederick County is a 1866 rebuild of the earlier Valley Mill. William Newton Eddy and later son-in-law Geo. Cunningham ran this mill. The pre-war mill was built in the late 1700's by the Helm family which ran it until 1830 when it passed to owner George Harrison till 1855. James Burgess then owned /milled there until 1862.
A tree stump south of the mill across Abrams Creek was notched out to hold a millstone.
The south side of the mill with the creek roughly behind.
Looking at the west end of the mill with the creek behind the photographer.
The view inside the open shed attachment on the west end of the mill, perhaps the operating front of the mill.
The mill was built in 1867, so chances are good that the mill replaced an earlier mill which was destroyed during the Civil War, when the Shenandoah Valley was raped and burned by Union troops.
The actual road-facing end of the mill, which may have been the operating rear of the mill, as the wooden -covered 'lower square windows' may have been the actual spent water outlets of the mill.
The miller's house across Valley Mill Road from the mill. If the owner sees this entry, I would appreciate any history he could add to the narrative. Just go down to Upload Pictures, click Go!, and add any photos and text. Thanks!