Jackson's Mill facts for kids
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Jackson's Mill
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Tom's Mill, owned by Cummins Jackson
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| Nearest city | Weston, WV |
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| Built | 1837 |
| Part of | Tom's Mill State 4-H Camp Historic District (ID04001598) |
| NRHP reference No. | 72001289 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | February 23, 1972 |
| Designated CP | February 4, 2005 |
Jackson's Mill is a historic place in Lewis County, West Virginia. It was once a busy grist mill, which is a mill that grinds grain into flour. Today, it is a museum and a special camp. The mill is famous because it was the childhood home of Stonewall Jackson. He became a very well-known general during the American Civil War.
Jackson's Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This means it is an important historical site that should be protected.
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The Historic Mill Building
The original Jackson family farm was located where Freeman's Creek meets the West Fork River. Edward Jackson, Stonewall Jackson's grandfather, built the first mill here in 1809. He also built a sawmill nearby.
The mill building you see today is made of wood and has three stories. It has a wooden shingle roof. Inside, you can still see many of the original wooden parts and machinery. These include large cog wheels that helped the mill work. Some parts, like the floor, have been replaced. But they were replaced with wood that looks just like the original. You can even see an old millstone and a feed hopper on the second floor.
Stonewall Jackson's Boyhood Home
After Edward Jackson passed away, his son Cummins Jackson took over the mill. Cummins's brother, Jonathan Jackson, had a family in Clarksburg, West Virginia. When Jonathan died in 1826, his wife Julia struggled to care for their two young children.
In 1830, Julia arranged for her children, Thomas Jonathan (who was 6) and Laura Ann, to live with their uncle Cummins. Julia died the next year, leaving the children to be raised by their uncle.
Life at the Mill
Young Thomas helped a lot on his uncle's farm. He took care of the sheep with a sheepdog. He also drove teams of oxen and helped with harvesting wheat and corn. His uncle Cummins also owned a few enslaved people.
Getting an education was hard back then. But Thomas went to school whenever he could. After he learned to read, he mostly taught himself. He would often read at night by the light of burning pine knots. He grew up to be the famous Confederate general, Stonewall Jackson.
There is a story that Thomas Jackson made a deal with one of his uncle's enslaved people. He promised to teach the man to read if the man would bring him pine knots for light. Even though it was against the law in Virginia to teach enslaved people to read, young Jackson kept his promise. Later in his life, before joining the military, Jackson also worked as a schoolteacher at Jackson's Mill.
Military Career and Legacy
In 1842, Thomas Jackson was accepted into the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York. After graduating, he became an instructor at Virginia Military Institute. During the American Civil War, he became a general in the Confederate Army. He sadly died in 1863 after being wounded in battle.
Jackson's Mill Today
In 1921, the owners of Jackson's Mill gave the property to the State of West Virginia. Today, the old grist mill is the main part of a historical site and museum. It is now called the Jackson's Mill Center for Lifelong Learning and State 4-H Camp.
This facility is located in Weston, West Virginia. It serves as a special campus for West Virginia University (WVU) and its Extension Service. Many young people attend camps and educational programs here, learning about history and life skills.
See also
