Gray-Watkins Mill
Also known as: Gray's Mill; Anfensin's Mill
Why it's listed
Gray's Mill is a limestone flour mill on the Fox River in Montgomery, Illinois, begun in 1851 and finished in 1853. It rises four stories plus a loft, with fifteen 12-by-12-inch columns per floor and walls that taper from 40 inches thick at the base to about 24 inches at the top. Daniel Gray, an early settler for whom the town was first named Graystown, built it with his son-in-law Vine Watkins and a German-born stonemason, John Hemm. The mill produced White Rose flour until about 1900. Shortly afterward, miller Cyrus Furnas pioneered the milling of mica there, supplying powder for early tire and radio tube uses until operations moved to Forest Park in 1922. Later it served as an electric motor facility and then stood empty before restoration began in 1976. It was judged significant because it survives as the best-preserved of four Fox River mills described in a 1963 book, two of which have since been destroyed and one of which was heavily altered.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the mill is unique in the area and is the last well-preserved survivor of four mills once standing along a 30-mile stretch of the Fox River. It also played a role in the early settlement of the Fox River Valley and in local commerce and industry. It was the site of pioneering mica milling in the early 1900s.
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 79000846, listed December 17, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 211 N. River St., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Kane County |
| Listed | December 17, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79000846 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Daniel Gray/Vine Watkins; Stonemason - John Hemm |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and renovated from 1976 onward; occupied, in commercial use, with a small restaurant on the property. The condition is described as excellent and altered. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 41.72847, -88.43637 (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 79000846.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5598453
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.