Rice’s (no, Hord) Mill, Church Hill TN
These pictures are of Rice’s Mill, off Hwy. 11W at 36.520177, -82.745222 in Hawkins County. The sign explains the original structure, thought to have been either at this site or near to it. Some speculate that the foundation may be original…who knows?) Other pix show the extant building from two angles, a look at one of the massive millstones and a shot of one of the Savage & Tyler Knoxville Round Belt Scalpers (Savage & Tyler, thus combined, came into being in 1893 on Cumberland and Second in Knoxville). This roller flouring mill had something to do with separating the grain as it came from the milling stones, I think (I was out sick the day they taught milling in school). Warning! This is private property. (I had a brief flirtation with the idea that this was actually Hord’s Mill, but later clarity revealed that Hord’s Mill is further up the Creek, which happens to be Hord Creek…it empties into the Holston River across from Hord Island.)
Rice’s Mill burned long ago. The mill in your photos is Hord’s Mill, built much later.
Wow! You’re absolutely right. I didn’t dig deeply enough to discover that the original Rice’s Mill was located near, but not necessarily at, the location of what is now known as Hord Mill. Thank you for commenting and correcting the information.
There was, at one time, a dwelling house within a few yards from the Mill. My family lived in the house 1946 -1949. My Dad paid rent while working the land, farming on the halfs for the Hord family. By the way it is not Hord mill. Hord lived in a big house up on the hill from the mill. My Dad passed away while living there from cancer. It’s a shame someone didn’t preserve the mill.
Thank you very much for this information!
Was told just yesterday that the building had been sold and moved to california ? I’ve not stopped and looked but think I may ride by there today.
As far as I know, it’s still there.
Just wanted to make you all aware that this mill is being quietly dismantled and allegedly moved to New York State as I write. It is an epic tragedy not only for the people of Tennessee as it was one of the oldest remaining in our state.
Agreed, but it apparently wasn’t properly protected. Now it’s too late.
It’s such a tragedy. I live within fair walking distance of the mill site. No one locally ever thought this would happen. It was just whisked away quietly into the night, before the leaves began to fall and anyone would notice it was gone. The mansion and mill are in a fairly remote, unnoticeable location, just off of a major highway. So, discreet removal was fairly easy to manage. The mill was designed after George Washington’s mill, not sure if at Mount Vernon or in Pennsylvania, but now after 200 years this rare history is going to be someone’s chalk painted kitchen table and chairs. It’s a truly devastating loss, and was due to “progress” the only remaining piece of pioneer history in our entire community.
The current owners of “New Canton Plantation” sold the mill to buyers in New York State. They have removed every piece of the mill. They also dug for artifacts around the mill. It is now gone as of 11/05/18.
It distresses me to hear that news. Thank you, though, for relaying it.