Gully Mill
Why it's listed
Gully Mill is a water-powered grist mill on Lock's Creek, just across the Fayetteville city line in Cumberland County. The main building dates to about 1900 and combines a two-story section, once a cotton ginnery, with a one-story addition from the 1930s. A 22-foot steel overshot wheel, probably installed in the 1930s, replaced the original wooden one. The grounds also hold a miller's house, silos, sheds and millstones, while a dam and water sill across the road control the creek's flow. Mills have worked this stretch of creek since at least 1802, and William Lord acquired an operation here in 1812. Around 1930 owner N. Lucas moved grinding equipment into the ginnery and restored it to working order. Later owners ground flour, meal and feed. The mill was listed as the last operating water-powered grist mill in Cumberland County, a reminder of a local industry once found on nearly every small creek.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Gully Mill as the last operating water-powered grist mill in Cumberland County. It occupies a site where mills have operated since at least 1802, and it reflects the agricultural milling economy of the Fayetteville area. It was converted from a cotton ginnery to a grist mill around 1930.
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 83001854, listed July 7, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | S.R. 1839, Fayetteville |
|---|---|
| County | Cumberland County |
| Listed | July 7, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83001854 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1900 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still operated occasionally by its owner and kept in working order; condition marked fair and altered. |
| Acreage | 2.5 |
| Coordinates | 35.05629, -78.84117 (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 83001854.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q18207576
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.