Aldie Mill Historic District facts for kids
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Aldie Mill Historic District
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Aldie Mill and its millwheels
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| Location | Both sides of U.S. 50 from E of Rte. 612 to W of Rte. 732, Aldie, Virginia |
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| Area | 60 acres (24 ha) |
| Built | 1803 |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000806 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | September 15, 1970 |
The Aldie Mill is a historic water mill located in Aldie, Virginia. It was built over 200 years ago to grind grain using the power of the Little River. This mill is special because it still has much of its original machinery. It is one of the best-preserved mills in all of Virginia.
Contents
The Story of Aldie Mill
How the Mill Began
The story of Aldie Mill starts with a man named Charles F. Mercer. He was a lawyer and a leader in Virginia. In 1804, he got permission to build a dam on the Little River. This dam would help power a new mill.
Mercer built a large house for himself nearby. He called his whole property "Aldie Manor." This name came from a castle in Scotland that his family was supposedly connected to. The small village that grew around the mill was named Aldie in 1810.
Building the Mill
The mill itself was built between 1807 and 1809. A builder named William Cooke worked for Charles Mercer on this project. Cooke built the main mill, a place to store grain (called a granary), a house for the miller, and a store. Other buildings like a distillery and blacksmith shop were also part of the complex, but they are gone now.
Cooke built all these things in exchange for half ownership of the mill. The mill used special machinery invented by Oliver Evans. Later, in the early 1900s, much of the old machinery and the original wooden water wheels were replaced.
Mill Owners Over Time
In 1816, Charles Mercer bought Cooke's share of the mill. He then rented it out to people who would run the mill. In 1835, Mercer sold the mill to John Moore. The Moore family owned and operated Aldie Mill for a very long time. Six generations of the Moore family ran the mill until 1971.
What Aldie Mill Looks Like
The main mill building is made of brick and has two stories. It also has two loft levels under its roof. On one side, there's a one-story section, and on the other, a two-story part.
Inside the mill, the machinery is powered by two large water wheels. These wheels are "overshot," meaning the water flows over the top of them to make them turn. They are arranged one after the other to power the mill.
Other Buildings at the Mill
The area around the mill is called a historic district. It includes two important houses:
- The Mercer House: This house overlooks the mill. It's a two-story house built in the Federal style. It has been changed a bit over the years.
- The Miller's House: This is a two-story brick house located behind the mill. It sits between the Little River and the millrace (the channel that carries water to the mill). This house has also been expanded.
Other buildings include a granary, which was built between 1809 and 1816. There's also a smaller building called the "county mill." This building was used to make plaster. The village of Aldie grew up around this busy mill complex.
Aldie Mill Today
Today, Aldie Mill is part of the Aldie Mill Historic Park. The Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority manages this park. It is open to the public, so people can visit and learn about its history.
The metal millwheels have been fixed and now work again. They can operate the mill's machinery, showing visitors how it once worked. Aldie Mill was recognized as an important historical site on September 15, 1970, when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
