Central Office District in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Inside A Flour Mill

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 25, 2009

1. Inside A Flour Mill Marker

Inscription. One of the first industries to benefit from American industrial innovation was flour milling. Oliver Evans published The Young Mill-wright and Miller's Guide in 1795, and his patented principles of design spread quickly. Evans' mechanized system required manual labor "only to close the barrels."

The main driveshaft of the waterwheel powered the grinding stones and mill machinery through gears and smaller driveshafts. Hopper elevators and screw conveyors moved grain and flour around the mill. By the mid-19th century other advances included belt drive and water turbines.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1795.

Location. 37° 32.093′ N, 77° 26.126′ W. Marker is in Richmond, Virginia. It is in the Central Office District. Marker is at the intersection of South 12th Street and East Canal Street, on the right when traveling north on South 12th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Flour Trade (here, next to this marker); Gallego Mills (here, next to this marker); Tidewater Connection Locks (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); James River & Kanawha Canal

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(about 300 feet away); Gallego Mill Flume (about 400 feet away); 1201 East Cary Street (about 400 feet away); Bowers Brothers Coffee and Tea Building (about 400 feet away); The Center of Industry in 18th and 19th Century Richmond (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

More about this marker. On the lower left is a photograph carrying the caption, "Gallego Waterwheel in Ruins, 1865. (Photo Courtesy of Library of Congress)

On the upper right is a diagram and key carrying the caption, "Cross-Section of A Mill. (Plate from Evan's Guide, 13th Ed., 1850)

On the lower right is a list of the equipment on each floor of Gallego Mills in 1895.

Cross-section of a mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 25, 2009

2. Cross-section of a mill

Inside Gallego image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 25, 2009

3. Inside Gallego

Flour Mill Markers image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Bernard Fisher, October 25, 2009

4. Flour Mill Markers

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,016 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 30, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 31, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.