Pall Mall in Fentress County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

The York Grist Mill

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), January 23, 2021

1. The York Grist Mill Marker

Inscription. The grist mill now named for Alvin York has stood for well over a century beside the Wolf River. Built in 1880 by James Conley and William Rankin it was one of the most sophisticated mills in Middle Tennessee. It was a turbine-driven, water-powered mill for grinding corn into meal. Farmers would bring wagonloads of corn from miles around to be ground into much needed cornmeal or livestock feed.

Alvin York would purchase the mill in 1942 and would operate it until his death in 1964. However, his brothers and sons would run it for most of this time as Alvin would be away from home in the early 1940's providing aid for the U.S. war effort, and his health would begin to decline shortly thereafter. In 1967, Gracie York, Alvin's widow, would sell the grist mill to the State of Tennessee for preservation. This was the beginning of Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park.

Caption: Logo of York's Special cornmeal. Sacks with this emblem were filled at the mill and sold at the York General Store.

Erected by Tennessee State Parks.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce •

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Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.

Location. 36° 32.503′ N, 84° 57.777′ W. Marker is in Pall Mall, Tennessee, in Fentress County. It can be reached from North York Highway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2801 N York Hwy, Pall Mall TN 38577, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Tennessee’s Cumberland Plateau.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in 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 Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Sgt. York at Work (within shouting distance of this marker); Alvin and Gracie York's Home and Farm (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Area (approx. 0.2 miles away); Sgt. Alvin C. York - America's Greatest Civilian Soldier (approx.

cmh2315fl via Flickr (CC BY-NC 2.0), January 23, 2021

2. The York Grist Mill Marker

0.2 miles away); Sgt. Alvin C. York Educational Legacy (approx. half a mile away); Wolf River Cemetery (approx. 0.6 miles away); Sgt. Alvin C. York's Personal and Spiritual Life (approx. 0.7 miles away); Wolf River Valley (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Pall Mall.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,319 times since then and 86 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 28, 2022, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. Verification of geocoordinates. • A wide shot of the marker in context. • Can you help?