Colvin Run Mill is in Great Falls, Fairfax County. Colvin Run Mill was built in 1811. Colvin Run Mill is the sole surviving operational 19th-century water-powered mill in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. In the mid-1930s the mill was abandoned, and highway development caused it to be cut off from any near-by water source. The mill was later acquired by the Fairfax County Park Authority, repaired, and made open to the public. Given below are some places at Colvin Run Mill that you should explore while visiting the mill.
Miller's House
Down the gravel path of the park is the miller's house, home to the families who ran the mill. In 1883, Addison Millard moved his family here when he bought the old mill. Addison, his wife Emma, and some of their 20 children lived there. When Addison died, the family stayed and operated the mill until 1934.
General Store At Colvin Run Mill
General Store
The path from the parking lot at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site leads to the porch of the General Store. Examples of merchandise sold in the store from the 1890s to the 1940s are displayed on the tops of shelves and hang from the ceiling. The general store remains a mercantile establishment, selling grain ground at the mill, "penny" candy and sundries.
Barn And Blacksmith Shop
Near the general store is the barn and blacksmith shop, built in 1970 during a restoration. Inside the barn is a model of Colvin Run Mill, faithfully reproduced to 1/24 scale by a dedicated volunteer. Barn exhibits include the tools of farmers and tradespeople who lived in the area at the turn of the 20th century. Children love the hands-on history trunk with reproductions of items used at home, school, and work.
Colvin Run Mill
Garden
There is a garden on the east side of the house. It’s a nice place to sit, relax, and enjoy the calm of flowers for a few minutes. Further down the gravel path is the mill. Nearby are the remains of a great white oak tree that fell during a summer storm. White oak was used for the framework of the mill, its axles, and the gear faces.
Burr Stones
Burr stones line a hillside along the path near the mill. These premium grinding stones were imported from France and were a major investment for the miller. A good set of burr stones would last up to 100 years, sometimes outlasting the mill. These stones displayed at Colvin Run came from various sites.
Maryam N. is a Senior Writer at Nesbitt Realty. She is an expert on Fairfax County. Maryam has also worked previously as a geologist. She is a foodie and enjoys cooking and exploring new restaurants.
