Yates Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Yates Mill
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Raleigh, North Carolina |
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| NRHP reference No. | 70000479 |
| Added to NRHP | February 26, 1970 |
Yates Mill is a special old building located near Raleigh, North Carolina. It's a fully restored gristmill that was first built around 1756. A gristmill uses water power to grind grains like corn and wheat into flour.
Today, Yates Mill is the main attraction of Historic Yates Mill County Park. This park is a great place to visit in central Wake County. You can explore the old mill, visit a museum, and learn about the area's history and nature. The park also has a 20-acre lake and many hiking trails. It's managed as a place where wildlife can live safely, and it helps people learn about history, nature, and farming.
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Discovering Yates Mill's Long History
Yates Mill is one of the oldest buildings in Wake County. It's the only working gristmill left in the area. For almost 200 years, this water-powered mill helped people by making lumber, grinding corn and wheat, and even preparing wool.
How Yates Mill Began
The land for the mill was first looked at in 1756 for Samuel Pearson. He received the land from the Earl of Granville, who was an important person in the North Carolina colony. The first mill was built around this time. Samuel Pearson owned more than 600 acres of land when he passed away in 1802.
In 1819, Samuel's son, Simon, had to sell the mill because of money problems. William Boylan, a well-known businessman from Raleigh, bought the property. Over the next 30 years, he made many improvements to the mill. He even added a sawmill in the 1840s.
Changes and Challenges Through the Years
In 1853, Thomas Briggs, John Primrose, and James Penny became the new owners of the mill. About ten years later, during the American Civil War, they sold the mill to Phares and Roxanna Yates. Roxanna was James Penny's daughter.
During the Civil War, a legend says that Federal troops tried to burn the mill. They were in Raleigh in 1865. The story says they tried to set fire to the entrance. You can still see charred wooden beams today, showing where they tried but failed to burn it down.
The Yates family and their children kept the mill running until 1948. Then, a businessman named A. E. Finley bought the property. He built a special lodge by the millpond for his family and workers. However, fewer people needed the old mill, so it closed in 1953.
Saving the Mill for Future Generations
Ten years later, in 1963, North Carolina State University bought the property. They used the land as an experimental farm. The mill itself was mostly used for storage.
In 1989, a group called Yates Mill Associates was formed to help restore the mill. The mill almost got destroyed in 1996. Heavy rains from Hurricane Fran broke its 250-year-old stone dam. But in 1996, Yates Mill Associates and Wake County Parks worked together. They created a plan to fix the dam and the mill. This led to the creation of a 574-acre historic and environmental park. Yates Mill is now a special Raleigh Historic Landmark.
Yates Mill Today: A Living Museum
After being empty for several years, Yates Mill Associates started working to restore the mill in 1988. The mill is an example of an Oliver Evans type of grist mill. It has been brought back to look and work like it did in the mid-1800s. Both the corn and wheat grinding machines have been fixed.
Since the mill officially opened to the public on May 20, 2006, it has held several corn grinding events. You can often take historic tours of the mill. On certain days, you can even watch demonstrations of corn grinding.
Who Helps Keep the Mill Running?
Yates Mill Associates, Inc. restored the mill with help from many groups. They received donations from government agencies, North Carolina State University, foundations, companies, and private citizens. North Carolina State University also provided 154 acres of land for the park. They use the park for ongoing natural history research.
Wake County bought 16 acres to add to the park. The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services also gave access to about 400 acres nearby for the park to use. The Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department managed the creation of this 574-acre park.
The County also oversaw the building of the A.E. Finley Center for Education and Research. They provide the staff and support needed to run the park. Yates Mill Associates organizes and pays for the upkeep of the mill and its demonstrations. They do this with private donations and help from volunteers.
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