Advance Mills, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Advance Mills
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Fray House
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Albemarle |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
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Advance Mills
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Advance Mills, Virginia |
| Area | 85 acres (34 ha) |
| Built | 1810 |
| Architect | Tulloch, William; Dickerson, James |
| Architectural style | Federal, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000362 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 12, 2002 |
Advance Mills, also known as Fray's Mill, is a small, historic place in Albemarle County, Virginia. It's called an unincorporated community, which means it's a group of homes and buildings that isn't officially a town or city with its own local government.
This area is like a step back in time. It started as a mill village way back in 1810. The Fray family moved here in 1833 and helped build up the community. Because of its special history, a large part of Advance Mills was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This list helps protect important historical sites across the United States.
The Story Behind the Name
The name "Advance Mills" became official in 1888. The story goes that a man named John Fray came up with the name. He said that people often talked about "all the advances being made there." This suggests the community was always moving forward and improving!
What Makes Advance Mills Special?
The historic area listed on the National Register of Historic Places covers about 85 acres. This area includes many old buildings and sites that tell the story of the community. These are called "contributing properties" because they add to the historical importance of the district.
Sadly, the original mill and a supply store were destroyed by a fire in the 1940s. However, you can still see where they once stood.
Important Historic Spots
Many interesting places are part of the Advance Mills historic district:
- The Advance Mills Bridge crosses the Rivanna River.
- The Advance Mills Supply building site shows where an old store used to be.
- The Advance Mills General Store is another important building.
- The J. M. Fray House was built around 1810 and is the best-preserved house in the area. It also has other old buildings nearby, like a schoolhouse, a smokehouse, and a barn.
- The Gaines Fray House (II) was built in 1921.
- The Gaines Fray House (I) is another Fray family home.
- The A. G. Fray mill site is where another mill once stood.
- A Bank Barn is located a bit west of the Rivanna River.
- The Ballard House, built around 1900, is another historic home.
