The Milling Complex

The Milling Complex. . , 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 farmers' grain or took a portion of the grain or flour for commercial use., [Caption:] , Storehouse (not shown) , The miller used this brick and clapboard building first as a store and storehouse and later as a residence for mill workers and their families., Granary , The miller stored grain in this building for future grinding. A conveyor moved the grain both ways between the upper floods of the merchant mill and the granary., Merchant Mill , A mechanical system of chutes and belts moved the grain through various milling stages. Some of the finely ground flour was sold in the store, but most of it was transported to Alexandria for markets in the east and overseas., Country Mill , Farmers brought their grain to this small mill to be ground into flour, meal, and feed for family use. This mill ceased operating in the late 19th century, and the building was used to store feed and other items.