Woodson's Mill
Also known as: Piney River Mill; DHR File No. 62-93
Why it's listed
Woodson's Mill is a four-story, post-and-beam grist mill beside the Piney River at Lowesville in Nelson County, Virginia. Some of its foundation may date to a mill built in 1794, but the building mostly reflects nineteenth-century construction, including an 1845 enlargement. Its machinery records the changes in American milling. Millstones came first, followed by Oliver Evans belt-driven conveying systems, and then a roller mill system added after 1900 by Dr. Julian B. Woodson to produce fine white flour. Woodson, a doctor, dentist and later state senator, also built an office into the mill and added water wheels to power an ice plant, sawmill and electricity. The mill served as a community meeting place and polling site. After closing in the 1960s, it was restored from 1983 and again grinds grain with a Fitz steel wheel. Four additional buildings on the property also contribute.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the best examples of a nineteenth-century water-powered mill in Virginia that is structurally intact and still operating. It keeps both older millstone machinery and a largely complete early twentieth-century roller mill system. Under Dr. Julian B. Woodson from 1900 it grew from a local mill into a regional commercial operation and a community center.
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 92001703, listed December 17, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | VA 778 E of jct. with VA 666, Lowesville |
|---|---|
| County | Nelson County |
| Listed | December 17, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001703 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | No style (vernacular) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored from 1983 and operating as a water-powered grist mill, with two water wheels in use and a working cider press. |
| Acreage | 38 |
| Coordinates | 37.72145, -79.06384 (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 92001703.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8033369
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.