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The Aldie Mill was built in 1807 to 1809 by Charles Fenton Mercer, a friend of George Washington. The mill retains the singular notariety of being the only surviving mill in Virginia that has twin, tandem overshot wheels. The mill operated as a merchant mill, buying the grain from local farmers, then grinding it into flour or cornmeal, and shipping to commercial enterprises on the East Coast and to foreign ports.
This building was once connected to the main mill, but in the restoration or before, the intervening section was dismantled. The mill used 48' millstones, somewhat smaller in diameter than usual, to grind grain to flour producing about 8 to 12 bushels of flour an hour. This figure can be stated more impressively by saying production of 2 ton/day. The mill operated up to 1981, when it was given to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, a organizatioon concerned with preserving natural resources and historical features related to them, by the James Douglas family, the then owners.
The mill features a tour that is free, but suggested donations of $2.00 Adults and $1.00 children. It is open from late April through late October, Sundays- 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm. There is an Aldie Stone Bridge on US 50 near the mill that is also worth checking out.
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Take US 15 south of Leesburg, Va. for about 16-17 miles to Gilberts Corners,then turn right (west) on US 50 and go 2 miles to Aldie. The mill is on the south side of US 50 in Aldie. |
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"One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple."
Psalm 27:4 NKJV |
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this web site are Copyright 2003 by Jim Miller - All rights reserved
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