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| Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print | | Aldie in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic) |
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Aldie Mill
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By Craig Swain, February 4, 2007 | |
| | | 1. Aldie Mill Marker | | |
Inscription. In the 1800s and early 1900s Aldie Mill reverberated with the rhythmic sounds of waterwheels, millstones, and farmers chatting with the miller about the weather and their crops. Charles Fenton Mercer located the grist mill here to capitalize on nearby sources of grain, the waters of Little River, and a network of roads. The Little River Turnpike (U.S. 50), connecting Aldie with the port of Alexandria, was nearly finished. And less than a mile to the west the highway would hook up with turnpikes through Ashby's Gap and the Snicker's Gap in the Blue Ridge. Ideally located, Aldie Mill turned Loudoun County's bountiful wheat harvest into flour for markets along the east coast and overseas.
Erected by Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
Location. 38° 58.518′ N, 77° 38.492′ W. Marker is in Aldie, Virginia, in Loudoun County. Marker is on John S. Mosby Highway (U.S. 50), on the right when traveling east. Click for map. The marker is in the parking lot for the Aldie Mill Historic Site. Marker is in this post office area: Aldie VA 20105, United States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, as the crow flies. Battle of Aldie (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee Moves North Again (within shouting distance of this marker); Mercer’s Home (about 400 feet away, in a direct line); Mother of Stonewall Jackson (approx. 1 miles away); President Monroe’s Home (approx. 1 miles away); A Revolutionary War Hero (approx. 1.4 miles away); Gettysburg Campaign (approx. 1.4 miles away); Stuart and Bayard (approx. 1.4 miles away). Click for a list of all markers in Aldie. | | | | 
By Craig Swain, February 4, 2007 | |
| | | 2. Merchant Mill Building | | |
Also see . . .
1. National Parks Service article on Aldie Mill. (Submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
2. Northern Virginia Parks Authoriy Site on Aldie Mill. (Submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
3. Virginia Wind article on Aldie Mill. (Submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
4. Time stands still at Old Aldie Mill. (Submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)
Additional comments.
1. Invoicing the old way.....
From “Time Stands Still at the Old Aldie Mill,” by the Waterford Historical Society:
The miller asked the boy tolling the grain, ‘Whose wheat is that?’
‘Mr. Fairfax’s, sir.’
‘Did you toll him?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Well, toll him again. He's a rich man and can afford it.’
Next day the miller came upon the boy and asked:
‘Whose cornmeal is that?’
‘Mr. Jones’s, sir.’
‘Did you toll him?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Well, toll him again. He’s a poor man; let’s keep him poor.’
The “miller’s toll” was a portion of the milled grain set aside by the miller in lieu of payment. —Ed. — Submitted June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. |
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By Craig Swain, February 4, 2007 | |
| | | 3. Waterwheels | | |
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By Craig Swain, February 4, 2007 | |
| | | 4. Country Mill Building | | |
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By Craig Swain, June 29, 2007 | |
| | | 5. The Water Trace and Overshot Wheels | | |
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By Craig Swain, June 29, 2007 | |
| | | 6. Waterpower System | | This interpretive marker details the water system used to power the mill. The water that powers the two waterwheels - and, in turn, the millstones - comes from a millpond almost two-thirds of a mile away at the western end of Aldie, to your left. Slaves probably dug the millrace and built wooden gates and wooden flume in the headrace. After powering the merchant mill's pair of overshot wheels, the water flowed through the tailrace and turned the country mill's wheel before rejoining the Little River north of the highway. Today, Aldie's merchant mill is the last standing gristmill in Virginia with tandem overshot waterwheels. | | |
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By Craig Swain, February 4, 2007 | |
| | | 7. The Milling Complex | | This interpretive marker details the buildings that make up the mill. Starting in 1807, slaves fired the bricks, built the mill structures you see here, dug trenches for the millrace, and then served as mill workers. Little cash passed between the farmers and the miller. Farmers brought their corn and wheat here to be ground into finished products. The miller paid for the farmer's grain or took a portion of the grain or flour for commercial use. | | |
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| Credits. This page originally submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 775 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Submitted on June 30, 2007, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. • J. J. Prats was the editor who published this page. | | Add Photo — Add Link — Add Commentary — Correct this page — Print |
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