Ward's Grist & Saw Mill
Watauga Co. | North Carolina | USA
Watersource: Watauga River.
Ward's Grist & Saw Mill
From Boone, go west on US 421/US 321 for about 5 miles. When the roads split, continue on US 321 about 3.5 miles until US 321 crosses the Watauga River. Immediately turn left on the west side of the bridge on Old Watauga River Road/Sh 1121 and drive to the mill on the left, a couple of miles. You will see the dam before the mill. The road is mostly a stone/gravel road.
The mill, powered by a Pelton wheel, was built in 1890 by Bill Ward.
The mill washed away in the 1901 flood, which damaged many mills in the area.
It was rebuilt as a saw and grist mill, powered now by a 26" Samson hydroturbine, and a log dam was built in 1906.
A hammer mill was added in the 1920's. Ben Ward, Bill's son, took over operations in 1932 after Bill's death. Bill's main interest had been the grist mill. Ben's interest was the saw mill.
A flood in 1940 caused more damage and loss of timber. In 1947 the grist mill was shut down.
The triangular plaque above the carport with the millstones states: "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." John 8:7. It also states: Salome, he got her virtue, she got his head. The bottom quote is: "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings--the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of blessings." - Winston Churchill
A concrete dam replaced the log dam in 1963. Ben died in 1970 and his son, Ray, took over. Not certain if the mill, using a 4" bandsaw, was operating in 2007. There were definitely logs on deck and one on the carriage.