Gish Mill Explained

Gish Mill
Location:350 Gus Nicks Blvd.
Vinton, Virginia, United States
Coordinates:37.2833°N -79.8997°W
Map Alt:A map of Virginia with a red dot near the southwestern portion of the state.
Built:1846
Added:November 18, 2021
Refnum:100007188

Gish Mill (also known as Gish's Mill) is an historic gristmill located in Vinton, Virginia.

Brothers Christian and David Gish, Sr., early settlers in the region, operated a mill on the site as early as 1797.[1] The original section of the current structure dates to circa 1846, and was built on Glade Creek in Roanoke County by David Gish, Jr.[2] The mill was one of several on Glade and nearby Wolf Creeks built by members of the Gish family, giving the area its informal name of Gish's Mills (later Gish's Mill) before incorporating as the Town of Vinton in 1884.[3] The mill's importance in Vinton's history is reflected in its depiction on the town's official seal.[4]

The facility originally utilized water-powered millstones for grinding, but was converted to an electric roller mill in the early 20th century. It survived at least two instances of fire, once in 1924 and again in 1940,[5] yet saw continued use as a mill into the 21st century. The most recent tenant ceased operations in 2014,[6] and after a period of disuse, the structure has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7] it is in the process of restoration as a mixed-use development consisting of lodging, commercial, and restaurant space.[8]

See also

National Register of Historic Places listings in Roanoke County, Virginia

References

  1. Book: Moseley . Irma . Vinton History 1884 to 1984 . Forbes . Madeline . Centennial Committee . 1984 . 9.
  2. Kate Kronau and Alison Blanton (June 2020). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Gish Mill" (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  3. Book: Kagey, Deedie . When Past is Prologue: A history of Roanoke County . Roanoke County Sesquicentennial Committee . 1988 . 266-267.
  4. Web site: Vinton's History . May 1, 2023 . www.vintonchamber.com . en.
  5. Book: Barnes, Raymond . A History of the City of Roanoke . Commonwealth Press, Inc. . 1968 . 807.
  6. Web site: September 23, 2015 . Town set to buy Holdren’s Country Store - Vinton Messenger . May 1, 2023 . en-US.
  7. Web site: 149-0057 Gish Mill . April 28, 2023 . www.dhr.virginia.gov . en-US.
  8. Web site: Boyd . Aila . December 8, 2020 . Vinton’s Gish’s Mill Awarded Redevelopment Funds . April 28, 2023 . TheRoanoker.com . en-us.

External links

Gish Mill at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources