Yates Mill
Encyclopedia
Yates Mill is a fully restored, circa 1756 gristmill
located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
. It is the centerpiece of Historic Yates Mill County Park, located in central Wake County. The park currently features the restored mill, a visitor center containing a museum focused on milling and on the natural history of the area, classrooms, an auditorium and space for research conducted by North Carolina State University
faculty and students, a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) lake and extensive hiking trails. The park is managed as a native wildlife refuge
with a mission to study and interpret the park's cultural, natural, and agricultural heritage.
. The original mill was built around at that time. Pearson steadily increased his land holdings, and owned more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) at the time of his death in 1802. In 1819, accumulated debts forced Pearson’s son, Simon, to sell the mill and its surrounding acreage at a sheriff’s auction. William Boylan, a prominent Raleigh businessman and director of the State Bank, bought the property, and over the next 30 years modernized the mill several times, adding a sawmill in the 1840s.
In 1853 Thomas Briggs, John Primrose and James Penny acquired the mill. A decade later, in the midst of the Civil War
, the partners sold the mill and surrounding 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) to Phares and Roxanna Yates, James Penny’s son-in-law and daughter. Penny’s involvement in the murder of a Mr. Franklin may have brought on the sale. According to legend, Franklin was a Northern sympathizer who Penny killed for not paying a $700 mill debt. In 1865, Franklin’s widow supposedly told Federal troops
occupying Raleigh that her husband’s death was due to his support for the Union
. The soldiers tried to burn the mill by setting fire to the entrance. Charred wooden beams today attest to the unsuccessful attempt.
Yates and his descendents operated the mill until 1948, when businessman A. E. Finley acquired the property. Finley constructed a retreat lodge by the millpond
for the use of his family and employees. Due to lack of demand, however, the old mill was closed in 1953. Ten years later, North Carolina State University
acquired the property, consolidating it into a larger tract to be used as an experimental farm. The mill was mainly used for storage until 1989, when Yates Mill Associates was formed to marshal its restoration. The mill narrowly escaped destruction in 1996, when rains unleashed by Hurricane Fran
burst its 250-year-old stone dam. In 1996, Yates Mill Associates and Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space unveiled a public-private partnership to rehabilitate the dam and mill as part of a 574 acres (2.3 km²) historic and environmental park. Yates Mill is now a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
The mill stood vacant for several years until Yates Mill Associates, Inc. began restoration efforts in 1988. The mill is an example of the Oliver Evans
type of grist mill and has been restored to its state as of the mid-19th century. Both the corn and wheat grinding machinery have been restored. Several corn grindings have been held since the mill officially opened to the public on May 20, 2006. The mill is frequently open for historic tours and corn grinding is demonstrated on specific days.
Yates Mill Associates, Inc. restored the mill with donations from governmental agencies, North Carolina State University
, foundations, corporations, and private citizens. North Carolina State University
provided 154 acre (0.62321644 km²) on a long-term lease and will use the park for ongoing natural history
research.
Wake County purchased 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) to add to the park and The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have provided access to an adjacent parcel of about 400 acres (1.6 km²) for park use. The Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department oversaw the development of this 574 acres (2.3 km²) park. The County supervised the construction of the A.E. Finley Center for Education and Research and provides the personnel and support needed to operate the park. Yates Mill Associates provides for the maintenance of the mill and its demonstration using private donations and volunteer help.
Gristmill
The terms gristmill or grist mill can refer either to a building in which grain is ground into flour, or to the grinding mechanism itself.- Early history :...
located five miles (8 km) south of downtown Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. It is the centerpiece of Historic Yates Mill County Park, located in central Wake County. The park currently features the restored mill, a visitor center containing a museum focused on milling and on the natural history of the area, classrooms, an auditorium and space for research conducted by North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
faculty and students, a 20 acres (80,937.2 m²) lake and extensive hiking trails. The park is managed as a native wildlife refuge
Wildlife refuge
A wildlife refuge, also called a wildlife sanctuary, may be a naturally occurring sanctuary, such as an island, that provides protection for species from hunting, predation or competition, or it may refer to a protected area, a geographic territory within which wildlife is protected...
with a mission to study and interpret the park's cultural, natural, and agricultural heritage.
History
Yates Mill, one of the oldest buildings in Wake County, is the region’s only surviving operable gristmill. For nearly 200 years the water-powered mill produced lumber, milled corn and wheat, and carded wool. The land on which the mill is situated was surveyed for Samuel Pearson in October 1756, and granted to him by the Earl of Granville, one of the North Carolina colony’s Lord ProprietorsLords Proprietor
Lords Proprietor was the name for the chief or highest owners or proprietors of certain English proprietary colonies in America, such as Carolina, New Jersey and Barbados....
. The original mill was built around at that time. Pearson steadily increased his land holdings, and owned more than 600 acres (2.4 km²) at the time of his death in 1802. In 1819, accumulated debts forced Pearson’s son, Simon, to sell the mill and its surrounding acreage at a sheriff’s auction. William Boylan, a prominent Raleigh businessman and director of the State Bank, bought the property, and over the next 30 years modernized the mill several times, adding a sawmill in the 1840s.
In 1853 Thomas Briggs, John Primrose and James Penny acquired the mill. A decade later, in the midst of the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the partners sold the mill and surrounding 94 acres (380,404.8 m²) to Phares and Roxanna Yates, James Penny’s son-in-law and daughter. Penny’s involvement in the murder of a Mr. Franklin may have brought on the sale. According to legend, Franklin was a Northern sympathizer who Penny killed for not paying a $700 mill debt. In 1865, Franklin’s widow supposedly told Federal troops
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
occupying Raleigh that her husband’s death was due to his support for the Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
. The soldiers tried to burn the mill by setting fire to the entrance. Charred wooden beams today attest to the unsuccessful attempt.
Mill pond
A mill pond is any body of water used as a reservoir for a water-powered mill. Mill ponds were often created through the construction of a mill dam across a waterway. In many places, the common proper name Mill Pond name has remained even though the mill has long since gone...
for the use of his family and employees. Due to lack of demand, however, the old mill was closed in 1953. Ten years later, North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
acquired the property, consolidating it into a larger tract to be used as an experimental farm. The mill was mainly used for storage until 1989, when Yates Mill Associates was formed to marshal its restoration. The mill narrowly escaped destruction in 1996, when rains unleashed by Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran
Hurricane Fran was a powerful Cape Verde-type hurricane of the 1996 Atlantic hurricane season that made landfall near Cape Fear in North Carolina at Category 3 strength. Throughout the eastern United States, early statistics on Fran reported 27 deaths and $3.2 billion in damage...
burst its 250-year-old stone dam. In 1996, Yates Mill Associates and Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space unveiled a public-private partnership to rehabilitate the dam and mill as part of a 574 acres (2.3 km²) historic and environmental park. Yates Mill is now a designated Raleigh Historic Landmark.
Current use
Oliver Evans
Oliver Evans was an American inventor. Evans was born in Newport, Delaware to a family of Welsh settlers. At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a wheelwright....
type of grist mill and has been restored to its state as of the mid-19th century. Both the corn and wheat grinding machinery have been restored. Several corn grindings have been held since the mill officially opened to the public on May 20, 2006. The mill is frequently open for historic tours and corn grinding is demonstrated on specific days.
Yates Mill Associates, Inc. restored the mill with donations from governmental agencies, North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
, foundations, corporations, and private citizens. North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University
North Carolina State University at Raleigh is a public, coeducational, extensive research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. Commonly known as NC State, the university is part of the University of North Carolina system and is a land, sea, and space grant institution...
provided 154 acre (0.62321644 km²) on a long-term lease and will use the park for ongoing natural history
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
research.
Wake County purchased 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) to add to the park and The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services have provided access to an adjacent parcel of about 400 acres (1.6 km²) for park use. The Wake County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Department oversaw the development of this 574 acres (2.3 km²) park. The County supervised the construction of the A.E. Finley Center for Education and Research and provides the personnel and support needed to operate the park. Yates Mill Associates provides for the maintenance of the mill and its demonstration using private donations and volunteer help.
External links
- Yates Mill Associates - Official website
- Historic Yates Mill County Park - official site
- Profile on Wake County government website
- Video of Yates Mill