Crump's Mill and Millpond
Also known as: Bailey's Mill; DHR File No. 063-0070
Why it's listed
Crump's Mill is a two-story, gable-roofed frame grist mill standing behind a dam in New Kent County, Virginia, with a 16-acre L-shaped millpond surrounded by wooded hills. Built in the 1870s after an 1872 fire destroyed an earlier brick mill, it measures about 30 by 20 feet and rests on a brick cellar, possibly reusing older brick. Much of its machinery survives, including a riveted steel Fitz overshot waterwheel about 14 feet across, shafting, gears, and French and granite millstones of unequal size. The mill also once ran a small generator for lighting. Records trace the site to Bailey's Mill, documented by 1782, and later to the Crump family and the Richardson family, who were the last to operate it. The property was recognized as a typical Tidewater country mill with rare original equipment, and for a pond whose watershed and ecosystem have stayed largely unchanged since before 1818. Restoration is under way.
Significance in brief: The mill is presented as a typical Tidewater Virginia country mill that still retains much of its original machinery, which is described as exceedingly rare. The millpond is larger and older than most, and its watershed and ecosystem are described as largely undisturbed since the dam was built before 1818. Together they show how rural mills served farm economies and later generated electricity.
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 99001199, listed September 24, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 9065 Crump's Mill Rd., Quinton |
|---|---|
| County | New Kent County |
| Listed | September 24, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001199 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1818 - 1949 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Other: grist mill |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restoration of the mill is under way; the machinery is being readied for reuse and the owners are building a new house on the hill above. The dam and millpond survive. |
| Acreage | 17.7 |
| Coordinates | 37.53690, -77.08943 (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 99001199.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14712223
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.