The Waterford Mill in Waterford, Virginia

This grist mill, built in 1818, was likely the third mill at this site.

NPS Photo/Center for Historic Architecture and Design Staff, December 2019

Quick Facts

Location:

Waterford, Loudoun County, Virginia

Designation:

National Historic Landmark

MANAGED BY:

Waterford Foundation

The Waterford Mill, located at the intersection of Main and First Streets in the village of Waterford, Virginia, played a central role in the economic development of the town. This brick building is the third mill to occupy the site. Amos Janney built a grist and sawmill here in the 1740s and settlement around it soon followed. His son, Mahlon, replaced the original log building with one of wood and stone in the 1760s, siting it in the current location. Emanuel Newcomer, who lived with his family in the Federal-style brick house on the hill across First Street, purchased the mill in 1814 and, around 1818, constructed the present brick building. Ownership of the mill changed hands many times over the course of two centuries, with equipment changes to reflect the newest technologies of the day. Following the intervention of Edward Chamberlin to keep the mill active, milling at the site ceased in 1939. In 1944, the Waterford Foundation purchased the mill to ensure its continued preservation. In the 1990s, the foundation installed mill equipment to reflect machinery in use here in the 1880s. 

The three-and-a-half-story, industrial building is constructed of brick laid in seven-to-one common bond facing east towards Main Street. It rests on a continuous and uncoursed fieldstone foundation. The front-gable roof is clad in raised-seam metal. A single front-gable dormer with wood siding is centered on the north and south slopes of the roof. An interior brick gable-end chimney rises at the northeast corner of the building, where the east gable is sided in wood clapboard. Fenestration is regular and symmetrical. On the façade, a centered, vertical plank, wood Dutch door with flat wood trim is flanked by nine-over-six, wood, double-hung sash windows. An inset wood lintel tops these. The pattern is carried up the building, where a slightly narrower wood Dutch door forms the center bay on each of the three-and-a-half stories. Windows in the gable differ, with three-over-three lights apiece. The remaining three elevations also contain three bays, with all bays on the north and south containing nine-over-six windows, most topped by brick flat arches. There is only one door on the west elevation, at the first story. The half story on the west elevation contains only two bays of six-over-six windows, and a moulded brick cornice delimits the triangular gable. 

More information: 
Old Mill of Waterford | History of Waterford Virginia (waterfordhistory.org)
Waterford Mills | History of Waterford Virginia (waterfordhistory.org)
 

The Waterford Mill is a contributing resource within the National Historic Landmark Waterford Historic District. National Historic Landmark Nomination

National Historic Landmarks (NHLs) are historic places that possess exceptional value in commemorating or illustrating the history of the United States. The National Park Service’s National Historic Landmarks Program oversees the designation of such sites. There are over 2,600 National Historic Landmarks. All NHLs are also listed in the National Register of Historic Places.