White's Mill
Why it's listed
White's Mill is a frame grist mill northwest of Abingdon, Virginia, fed by Toole's Creek. A mill has operated here since 1796, though the present two-story building on a sloping basement, with a full attic under a gable roof, probably dates from the mid-19th century. It was built as a water-powered buhr mill with two sets of millstones, then expanded in the late 19th century with three roller mills and modern bolting and sifting equipment. A twenty-foot Fitz overshot wheel drives it, and most interior gearing is handmade of wood. An earthen and wooden race carries water from the creek, and a coursed rubble limestone dam with a hydraulic ram belongs to the complex. The mill has run almost continuously as a commercial or semi-commercial operation, grinding grain for toll or a fixed price. It was listed as the only known working, commercially run, water-powered mill in Southwest Virginia and a rare record of changing milling technology.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it a rare working example of the stages of grist milling technology in one building, from Oliver Evans-style late 18th-century methods to late 19th-century roller mills. It is described as the only known working, commercially run, water-powered mill in Southwest Virginia.
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 74002149, listed September 10, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NW of Abingdon on White Mill Rd., Abingdon |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | September 10, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002149 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described in the 1974 nomination as in excellent condition, unaltered and occupied, and still grinding grain with occasional public openings. Later correspondence (1998) reports serious structural and mill race deterioration. |
| Acreage | 7 |
| Coordinates | 36.76803, -81.98832 (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 74002149.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q16903226
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.