Gambles Hill in Richmond, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Overshot Waterwheel

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

1. Overshot Waterwheel Marker

Inscription. This is a reconstruction of one of many waterwheels used on this site. It is called an overshot wheel because the water flows over the top. The Tredegar Iron Works used waterwheels from its founding in 1836 until the 1870s when turbines were installed. Two different wheels were located here, powering foundry blowers and an early machine shop.

No photographs of these waterwheels exist. Information from maps, insurance policies, and company records was used to reconstruct this waterwheel, as well as photographs of wheels of the same era.

After the James River and Kanawha canal was constructed in the 1780’s, industries began to use its water for power. Thomas Rutherfoord’s flour mill was the first, and insurance plans show the waterwheels it employed. Later, the Tredegar Iron Works built a spike mill in the same location.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1836.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 32.11′ N, 77° 26.738′ W. Marker was in Richmond, Virginia. It was in Gambles Hill. It could be reached from Tredegar Street 0.1 miles west of South 5th Street. This marker is located outside the Civil

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War Visitor Center at Tredegar Iron Works. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 470 Tredegar Street, Richmond VA 23219, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in Central Virginia.

It was also in the American South

and specifically in the Upper South.

Globally, it was in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found 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. within walking distance of this location: Touch for a list and map of all markers in Richmond.

Other markers no longer nearby. Civil War Visitor Center (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Overshot Waterwheel (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); Southern Firepower (was a few steps from this marker but has been permanently removed); a different marker also named Southern Firepower (was a few steps from this marker but has been reported to have been replaced with another marker now near it); Historic Tredegar (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Toledo 1000-ton Press (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Gateway to the Civil War (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Early Industrial Patterns (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Adapting Power

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

2. Overshot Waterwheel Marker

(was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Francis Turbine (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Cupola Furnace and Foundry (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Gun Foundry (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Joseph Reid Anderson (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Enterprise and Iron (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); The Bulldozer Press (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Raceways (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed).

More about this marker. The background of the panel is a diagram displaying the locations of waterwheels throughout the Tredegar area. The caption reads, “Based on a map found in the carpenter’s shop during construction, this diagram shows the location of waterwheels from c.1799 to 1871 and the buildings they powered.”

These include: “Rutherford Flour Mill/J.R. Anderson &

Overshot Waterwheel image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 3, 2009

3. Overshot Waterwheel

Co. Spike Mill c. 1799-1859; J.R. Anderson & Co. Rolling Mill c.1837-1869; Richmond Manufacturing Co. Cotton Mill c.1832-1850; Virginia Foundry Co. (Later J.R. Anderson) Foundry c.1837-1863; Crenshaw Flour/Woolen Mill c.1854-1863; Corn Mill c.1803-1829; Machine Shops c. 1842-1863; R. Archer & Co. / J.R. Anderson & Co. (Armory) Rolling Mill c.1847-1867.”

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. New Marker At This Location also titled "Overshot Waterwheel".

Ruins of State Arsenal (overshot waterwheel) image. Click for full size.

Apr 1865

4. Ruins of State Arsenal (overshot waterwheel)

Library of Congress [LC-B817- 7030]

Ruins of Gallego Mills (overshot waterwheel) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bernard Fisher, November 6, 2009

5. Ruins of Gallego Mills (overshot waterwheel)

Library of Congress [LC-B817- 7177]

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. This page has been viewed 1,334 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on November 6, 2009, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.