Colesville in Silver Spring in Montgomery County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Valley Mill
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 24, 2018
1. Valley Mill Marker
Inscription.
Valley Mill. . Several water powered mills operated along Paint Branch from as early as 1723. In the 1790s, Peter Kemp built a saw and grist mill and brick miller's cottage on this site. Two subsequent mills replaced the original in the nineteenth century. The first, constructed in 1835 by Dr. Washington Duvall, became the leading producer of corn meal in Montgomery County by mid-century. In 1879, Franklin Pilling built the mill known as Valley Mill. Pilling replaced the old water wheel with a more efficient poole and hunt turbine, a portion of which remains. The centralization of milling to the mid-west in the late 1800s caused the economic demise of numerous small mills. The Valley Mill ceased to operated by 1930.
Several water powered mills operated along Paint Branch from as early as 1723. In the 1790s, Peter Kemp built a saw and grist mill and brick miller's cottage on this site. Two subsequent mills replaced the original in the nineteenth century. The first, constructed in 1835 by Dr. Washington Duvall, became the leading producer of corn meal in Montgomery County by mid-century. In 1879, Franklin Pilling built the mill known as Valley Mill. Pilling replaced the old water wheel with a more efficient poole and hunt turbine, a portion of which remains. The centralization of milling to the mid-west in the late 1800s caused the economic demise of numerous small mills. The Valley Mill ceased to operated by 1930.
Erected by Montgomery County Park Commission, Department of Parks.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1723.
Location. 39° 3.957′ N, 76° 58.679′ W. Marker is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County. It is in Colesville. Marker can be reached from East Randolph Road west of Tourmaline Court, on the left when traveling east. On the grounds of Valley Mill Special Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1600 East Randolph Road, Silver Spring MD 20904, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 24, 2018
2. Valley Mill Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 24, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 281 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on March 24, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
