The Water-Powered Mills of Floyd County, Virginia: Illustrated Histories, 17702010 (Contributions to Southern Appalachian Studies)
Author(s): Franklin F. Webb (Author), Ricky L. Cox (Author)
Publisher: McFarland & Co
Publication Date: 5 July 2011
Language: English
Print length: 362 pages
ISBN-10: 0786437235
ISBN-13: 9780786437238
Book Description
From the time of early settlement in Virginia, water-powered mills played a primary role in the state’s economy. This work provides an overview of grain milling in Floyd County, Virginia, from 1770 to the present day. Topics covered include the difficulties involved in identifying early mills, the importance of mill site selection, water wheel types, laws regulating mills, the decline of milling and physical remains of abandoned mill sites.
The main body of the book provides individual histories of 140 grist, flour, and feed mills, a few of which also processed wool. The histories are based primarily on oral histories, title deed records, and local newspapers. More than 100 photographs and maps supplement the text, and tables provide production figures for various mills from industrial censuses of 1850, 1870, and 1880.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“a rich and detailed history of primarily water-powered mills in an important region of Appalachia…well-researched and written…an in-depth history…photograph collection significantly enhances the text…recommend the book highly…. I commend Mr. Cox on his tenacity in pursuing compilation and publication of this valuable resource for mill and industrial historians”―Old Mill News; “many fascinating details in this history can titillate the reader”―Alcalines: Journal of the Assembly on the Literature and Culture of Appalachia.
From the Inside Flap
From the time of early settlement in Virginia, water-powered mills played a primary role in the state’s economy. This work provides an overview of grain milling in Floyd County, Virginia, from 1770 to the present day. Topics covered include the difficulties involved in identifying early mills, the importance of mill site selection, water wheel types, laws regulating mills, the decline of milling and physical remains of abandoned mill sites.
The main body of the book provides individual histories of 140 grist, flour, and feed mills, a few of which also processed wool. The histories are based primarily on oral histories, title deed records, and local newspapers. More than 100 photographs and maps supplement the text, and tables provide production figures for various mills from industrial censuses of 1850, 1870, and 1880.
About the Author
The late Franklin F. Webb lived in Roanoke, Virginia.
Ricky L. Cox is an instructor of English and Appalachian studies at Radford University in Radford, Virginia. He is co-editor of A Handbook to Appalachia: An Introduction to the Region.
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