Calvert Mill/Washington Mill
Also known as: The Old Mill
Why it's listed
Washington Mill is a five-level frame mill with a gambrel roof, set on the Rush River at the eastern edge of the town of Washington in Rappahannock County, Virginia. Its earliest section was standing by 1800, and the third and fourth floors were added around 1840 and 1860. The building has two structural sections with hand-hewn, pegged timbers, a rubble stone basement and a first story with stone grinding wheels. The fourth floor still holds much of the flour-making equipment, including a wooden paddle conveyor, a long sifter and many wooden gears. Ownership passed through families such as the Redds, Calverts, Garwoods, Cheeks and Jetts. The mill served as Washington's town mill until the late 1800s and operated as a quasi-public utility for local farmers. It may have been a neutral trading point during the Civil War. A 1950 concert by the Virginia Symphony was held there. Siding and some stairs are later replacements.
Significance in brief: The mill served as the town mill of Washington from the early national period to the end of the 19th century. It keeps much of its antebellum flour-milling machinery in good repair, making it a well-preserved example of the grain and milling industry in Virginia's 19th-century economy. It is also believed to have served as a neutral bartering place between Union and Confederate lines during the Civil War.
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 82004583, listed September 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E of Washington on US 211, Washington |
|---|---|
| County | Rappahannock County |
| Listed | September 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82004583 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | Ca. 1800 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and vacant, in fair condition and altered; the owner at the time of nomination planned to restore it for commercial use. |
| Acreage | 4 |
| Coordinates | 38.71265, -78.15203 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 82004583.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5024273
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.