There were at least 70 mills and possibly many

There were at least 70 mills and possibly many more in Rappahannock County. Other counties had even more (Fauquier for example, records nearly 300). Named for their owners or locations, several of these important old structures remain all or partially intact. These include: Estes on the south side of US 211 west of Sperryville, Hittle’s on the west side of US 522 north of Flint Hill at Hittle’s Mill Road, and Jett’s, on the Rush River at the eastern exit of 211 for Washington Electricity for the village of Slate Mills was generated for a time at the mill on the Hughes River just west of the intersection of Slate Mills and Round Hill Roads. Fletcher’s Mill, just off of US 522 about 2 miles south of Sperryville, was one of the largest, oldest, and longest operating of these industrial buildings. Sadly, though still imposing, this four-story behemoth is now but a ghost of its former self.

Numerous factors contributed to the decline of the local mills. Railroads, larger flour mills with economies of scale (and startup costs beyond the reach of localities), and lowcost oil and coal made it impossible for the neighborhood operations to compete. The relatively few mills that survive intact and operational are mostly tourist attractions. But the streams and the basic mechanical principles are still there. One wonders whether there is some threshold in the price for Texas Tea above which setting up operation down by the old millstream might once again be food for local thought^