Friends of Roberson Mill

Roberson Mill located 3 and 1/2 miles south of Floyd VA, is a 2 and 1/2-story grist mill. It was built during the  1880's.  The grist mill has been undergoing restoration of the exterior part of the building since late 2019. To date, the mill's foundation has been secured and exterior drainage around the perimeter of the mill has been improved. 

In addition, the old siding was replaced with new and new custom-built windows were installed. Lastly, and most recently, the old leaky roof was replaced with a new one, as well as, current work toward replacing areas of damaged flooring.  All restoration efforts are costly and, therefore, have had to be completed in phases.  There is much remaining work to be done before this project is complete. 

As chairman of the board of Friends of Roberson Mill, this restoration process comes full circle.  Both my Grandfather and Father were owner/operators of this mill for a span of 50 years from the early 1930's until the early 1980's (by then, the flume which supplied the water to the water wheel had completely collapsed).  In addition, one of my brothers was very passionate relative to not allowing the demise of this historical structure.  He drew diagrams, conversed with family and other individuals as to methods of saving this mill until his life, on this earth, ended. He died of colon cancer in 2019.

 Water damaged areas of flooring were recently replaced on the lower level of the mill; new flooring of rough-cut tongue and groove looks great. This was JUST one step further into allowing visitors inside the mill.  In addition, once all flooring is replaced, event planning will be in full force.  Work continues to secure stair railings within the interior of the mill.  Beginning on September 5th of this year, (after Friends of Roberson Mill were invited by Floyd County's Tourism Office) our board members and volunteers were more than happy to participate in 'The Mountain Spirit Trail'.  This driving trail depicts 3 counties (Floyd, Franklin and Patrick) with regards to exploration of their moonshine  roots, and is similar, in nature, to 'The Crooked Road'.  Despite some of our ancestor's ways of thinking, moonshine and old grist mills, certainly, went hand in hand; consequently, working toward the end result of each other's livelihood.  Roberson mill volunteers and board members have thoroughly enjoyed giving tours to the community over these last 2 and a half months.  We hope this is only the beginning of what this old mill has to offer.

 Upon completion of both the 2nd and 3rd level floor repairs, these two repairs will allow visitors safety while enjoying all aspects of the mill's interior components and layout, as well as, its rich history. Another important planning phase consists of replacing the water wheel with a new one (the old one was unsalvageable and had to be torn down).  We think you would agree, a water wheel would definitely enhance the mill aesthetically; the all-important water wheel is the missing component making the mill 'a mill'.  However, other primary concerns will need to be finalized before the water wheel purchase/installation efforts begin.  See (restoration) page.

Roberson mill was one of the latter two commercial mills to operate by waterpower in Floyd County and one of two existing flour mills that was neither designed to incorporate a roller mill nor modified afterward to accommodate one. This mill, therefore, represents the county's most authentic picture of flour milling as it was done in the United States through the larger part of the 19th century.  (This is an excerpt from "Water Powered Mills of Floyd County" book  by Ricky Cox and Franklin Webb)

Approximately a year ago, we received the good news Roberson mill was named on the current registry of National Historic Places.   Board members are in hopes this will enhance our overall recognition over time.  The board's future plans, along with continued interior restoration, are to have a parking area installed to allow for future fundraising events at the mill and, lastly, the installation of a replacement water wheel. As the most recent one, of metal, was non salvageable, and had to be removed.

Plans are to eventually open the mill to the public with a strong emphasis toward education involving area school systems.

-Regina Roberson Cox