Davis Mill
Also known as: Davies Mill; Cora Mill; Falls of Raccoon Mill
Why it's listed
Cora Mill, also called Davis Mill, is a two-story grain mill beside Raccoon Creek northeast of Patriot in Gallia County, Ohio. Charles Giles, who came from Maine, built it about 1845. It has a gambrel roof, metal siding over a frame structure, a sandstone foundation and hand-hewn interior timbers. Much of the late 19th century milling machinery remains, including a grist mill made in Auburn, New York, and several Case flour-processing machines. The mill is significant as the last survivor of the many mills once powered by Raccoon Creek, and it served local farmers, many of Welsh descent, as a small commercial center. Aaron Davis, Giles's adopted son, later ran it and installed a turbine wheel in 1890. The Massie family owned it from 1899 into the 1930s. The 1937 flood destroyed the dam and wheel, and the mill never operated again. A rear addition now holds a small gift shop.
Significance in brief: It is the only remaining mill on Raccoon Creek, where once more than a dozen mills operated in Gallia County alone. It served as a small commercial and grain-processing center for local farmers, many of Welsh descent, and kept operating long after many other mills closed. Much of its late 19th century machinery survives.
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 80003028, listed November 28, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Patriot on Cora Mill Rd., Patriot |
|---|---|
| County | Gallia County |
| Listed | November 28, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003028 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | c. 1845-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Giles |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied; the rear shed addition serves as a small gift shop and the owners plan to retain and restore the machinery. The mill has not operated since the 1937 flood. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 38.82472, -82.36932 (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 80003028.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.