The mill is in a stabilized state, this accomplished 1979-80. The entire mill had been in ruins, the roof had leaked for probably a decade prior and all the interior wooden beams, support posts, and flooring were rotten and decayed. Photo by Soon Kim/summer 2011.

Interior structural support was added for the walls, vertically as well as horizontally in both directions. Metal casements were placed around the door and window openings, a framework skeleton to depict the gable roof and sack hoist, and several interpretive displays about the history and functioning of the mill were added.

Metal casements were placed around the door and window openings, a framework skeleton to depict the gable roof and sack hoist, and several interpretive displays about the history and functioning of the mill were added.

Also a handicapped accessable ramp to the second floor overlook of the diplays was provided. This was considered a better option than full retoration, considering the suseptability of flooding at the location. ADC Montgomery Co, MD map 21 grid E6 Poto by Soon Kim/summer 2011

The Black Rock Mill photo taken November 6, 1972. The mill still had its roof in 1974, but in that year the interior of Black Rock Mill has become so rotted that it had to be removed to prevent the whole building from collapsing. The roof was removed in order to hoist the rotted wood out. After that, just the walls remained-Ted Hazen, former miller at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, D.C. The original tract of land "Black Rock" on "Sinicar Creek" was patented to John Brisco on Sept. 26, 1760 with no existing improvements. The mill was actually built in 1815 by Thomas Hilleary, after he bought back the land, about 355 acres, deeded to his West relations by his father Henry Hilleary. Henry had possessed the tract, now called "The Sprained Ankle" Tract from 1789-1811.

The Black Rock Mill photo taken in 1906. The wooden structure attach to the backside of the stone mill is the saw mill. This photo shows the rural setting of Montgomery County in 1906--Ted Hazen, former miller at Peirce Mill in Rock Creek Park, D.C. In 1844, Frankin Waters and his wife Sarah (Hilleary) sold the mill property to Nocholas D. Warfield. Nicholas D. Offutt next purchased the mill in 1861, but the sale was not finalized until 1866, with the help of the Equity Court and a Trustee's sale. The Thomas Hilleary estate, divided to son Thomas, son John H., and daughter Sarah. John Harlan Hilleary lost his share to Offutt due to financial difficulties and the later court ruling. Offutt had filed a complaint in Equity Court to get control of the remaining parcels. Sarah had died before reaching 21 and Mr. Waters was declared a lunatic. In the meantime, the mill was operated by Charles Mansfield, who let the mill decline toward dilapidation.

Offutt, the highest bidder, paid $2,950 for the mill and ran it until he died in the 1890's. The mill is owned by Leo Offutt, Nicholas' executor in 1894, when offered for sale. The property, however, stayed in Offutt possession for quite a few years. Americus Briggs and his son-in-law, C. Wallace Hughes, operated the mill in the 1920's, perhaps still under Offutt ownership. Three runs of burrs ground grain following the harvest season and an up-and-down saw cut lumber year around. Black Rock Mill cut the lumber for the Liberty Mill, a steam mill in nearby Germantown, and in so doing, helped put themselves out of business eventually. In 1951 Asher Hobson sold the mill to John Shattuck, who resold in 1955 to Gladys Finegan. Two years later she sold to the Gerald Ray Haneys.

The mill was purchased by the Maryland Forest and Park Service in 1973 and added onto the adjacent Seneca State Park. It is the best choice for a representaive mill still extant in Montgomery County, even if it never progresses past the current state of being stabilized and not into a restored state.

Black Rock Mill