Causey's Mill
Also known as: 121-0012
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Causey's Mill is a small two-story wood frame grist mill beside Lake Maury and Warwick Boulevard in Newport News. Built around 1866 by William Causey on the site of an older mill damaged in the Civil War, it rests on a stone, brick and concrete foundation. Mills have stood here since the mid-17th century, when the land lay within the Langhorne family's holdings along Waters Creek. The old road across the mill dam once connected both ends of the Peninsula. Creation of Lake Maury in 1931 ended the mill's tidal function and erased the old dam and pond. It is one of only two surviving historic tidal mills on the Peninsula. Rising water and road runoff have undermined its foundation, so state officials endorsed moving it about 50 feet west to higher ground while keeping its orientation and lakeside setting. Archaeological surveys found no additional eligible sites. The city owns the mill under a long-term lease and is exploring restoring its turbine.
Significance in brief: It is one of only two surviving historic tidal mills on Virginia's Peninsula, a largely urbanized area. It occupies a site where mills have operated since the mid-17th century, and it was rebuilt by William Causey after the Civil War. The supplied text does not include the formal significance section, so the stated reasons come from the cover letter and archaeological report.
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 08000078, listed February 21, 2008. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence low).
Key facts
| Address | 11700 Warwick Rd., Newport News (Independent City) |
|---|---|
| County | Newport News |
| Listed | February 21, 2008 |
| Reference number | 08000078 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | William Causey (purchased the old Langhorne mill site and rebuilt the mill, completed around 1866) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The foundation is failing from water undermining since Lake Maury was created in 1931. The machinery is inoperable. A 2010 request sought approval to move the mill about 50 feet west to higher ground. The City of Newport News holds a 55-year lease. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 37.05865, -76.48336 (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 08000078.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16858479
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.