Category: History

Yate’s Mill in Raleigh is a fine example of a 18th century water powered grist mill, and Murray’s Mill in Catawba County, North Carolina is an equally well preserved late 19th and early 20th century example.  Built in 1913 by John Murray, whose father, William, had operated a mill on the site since 1883, Murray’s Mill is a combination of water powered stones for grinding corn and roller mills for grinding flour. The equipment is almost completely intact from the day it ceased operation in 1967. Next door to the mill and part of the Murray’s Mill Historic District, is the Murray and Minges General Store run by John’s brother Oley. For more info on these historic structures, go to http://www.catawbahistory.org/historic_murrays_mill.php.

Last week I was passing through Raleigh, North Carolina and I stopped by Yates Mill on Lake Wheeler Road. Yates Mill is a fully restored, and operational circa 1756 gristmill.  Located in Historic Yates Mill County Park, the mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is the only restored operational automatic mill in North Carolina and probably the most complete, accurate, and original example in the country. Head miller William Robbins kindly showed me around and invited me back to watch the mill operate and grind corn meal, which they do every 3rd weekend of the month, March through November. For more information, go to http://www.ncsu.edu/project/yates-mill/home.htm or http://www.wakegov.com/parks/yatesmill/default.htm.

(Photographs copyright 2011 by Dan Routh0