Aldie in Loudoun County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Waterpower System
In 1805, Charles Fenton Mercer had a dam constructed to form a millpond at a place where the bend in Little River approaches the public road to Middleburg.
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 the 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.
[Captions:]
To stop the waterwheels between grindings, a mill worker closed the gate to divert the water into this overflow channel.
To start the waterwheels, a mill worker opened the head gate near the pond, so the water could flow down the headrace to the mill.
Erected by Virginia Outdoors Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Agriculture • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.
Location.
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Washington Metropolitan Area and in Northern Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Milling Complex (a few steps from this marker); Aldie Mill (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named The Aldie Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); A Freedom Seeker from Aldie: The Story of Daniel Dangerfield (within shouting distance of this marker); Battle of Aldie (within shouting distance of this marker); Lee Moves North Again (within shouting distance of this marker); Slashing Sabers (within shouting distance of this marker); Mercers Home (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Aldie.
Photographed by Bradley Owen, October 21, 2016
3. Aldie Mill
The last standing gristmill in Virginia with tandem overshot waterwheels.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 22, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 462 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 29, 2020, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. 3. submitted on April 21, 2021, by Bradley Owen of Morgantown, West Virginia.
