Bale Mill
Why it's listed
Bale Mill is a wooden grist mill built in 1846-47 about three miles northwest of St. Helena, between St. Helena and Calistoga. Set on a slope, it has three stories on the downhill side and two on the uphill side, each level covering roughly 1,000 square feet. Local lumber and stone were used, and the millstones were made from native stone. A 45-foot wooden overshot water wheel was fed by a flume of hollowed redwood logs, with a rubble stone tailrace carrying water away. The original shake roof has been replaced with corrugated iron. Dr. E. T. Bale, grantee of Ranch Carne Humana, built the mill, which ground flour for settlers while prospectors searched the Sierra Nevada for gold. It is described as the only historic structure of its kind in California. Napa County has owned it since 1941, and it is open daily to visitors. It is also registered as California historic landmark number 359.
Significance in brief: The form calls it a prime example of an early grist mill, built by Dr. E. T. Bale, grantee of Ranch Carne Humana. It ground flour for settlers during the Gold Rush and is described as the only historic structure of its kind in California. It has been county-owned since 1941 and is open to the public.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 72000240, listed June 22, 1972. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 3 mi. NW of St. Helena off CA 128, St. Helena |
|---|---|
| County | Napa County |
| Listed | June 22, 1972 |
| Reference number | 72000240 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (1846-47) |
| Architect / builder | Dr. E. T. Bale (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by Napa County since 1941 and open daily as a public attraction; condition listed as fair and altered, with a corrugated iron roof replacing the original shake roof. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Coordinates | 38.54126, -122.50930 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 72000240.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q123024358
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.