A Walking Tour of Fredericksburg’s Historic Old Mill District

A Walking Tour of Fredericksburg’s Historic Old Mill District. . , Fredericksburg’s Historic Old Mill District dates its origins to the earliest settlers along the Rappahannock River. This walking tour takes you through what can be considered the city’s first industrial park as it winds along the Rappahannock and a parallel canal. These waterways and the power they provided allowed this 18th, 19th, and early 20th century industrial area to flourish. , 1. Indian Punch Bowl , Although the origins of this stone basin are not certain, it is said to have been used by the Indians during hunting festivals as a punch bowl. Found by Major Francis Thornton (1682-1758) upon his land, it was inscribed by Thornton “1720.” , 2. Site First Mill (1720) , Owned by Francis Thornton, whose lands encompassed this area, the first mill ground produce of the the Thornton plantation into meal and flour . Such mills were necessary in early colonial times, because plantations were self-sufficient. , 3. 1907 Dam and Gates , This dam and gate structure replaced an older dam dated back to the early 1800’s. Made of concrete, the newer dam was said to be “State of the art” and replaced the deteriorating older dam. , 4. Site Rappahannock Electric Light and Power Company , Between 1822 and 1922, this section of canal supplied water to power the water wheel of the Rappahannock Electric Light and Power Co. Between 1900 and 1923, the Company was managed by Ellen Caskie London Ficklin, the first woman in the United States to head a public utilities company. , 5. Bridgewater Mills Foundations (1822) , This 150’ x 40’ brick mill, which was five stories high in part, could ship 150 barrels of flour and 400 bushels of corn per day. The first telephone in Virginia was hooked up between this mill and downtown. The mill won the silver medal at the 1878 Paris International Exposition. Nearby Cooper Chop and Woodwork Shop The Cooper Shop made barrels that were used to ship the flour from the mill. A wood-working shop, also near the mill, utilized tools which were run by water power. , 6. Knox Bone Mill and Sumac Mill Foundations , In the 19th century, these mills ground bone into fertilizer for regional use in farming, Sumac, which grows locally, and was used in tanning leather and dyeing textiles, was also extracted from leaves of the sumac tree for sale throughout the United States. Sumac provided income to many Fredericksburg citizens and was one of the principal industries of the city. The Knox Sumac Mill was one of the largest in Virginia.