Mills of Buckingham County: Curdsville
Flour Bags, Buckingham Mills, Buckingham Court House
A mill, in the vicinity of what became Curdsville, was one of the oldest in the county. In her 1937 survey for the Virginia Historical Inventory, Elizabeth McCraw noted the imported French Burrs, used for grinding corn, remained at Curdsville Mill located close to the Willis River, below the deserted village of Curdsville. It was a mammoth structure, four stories high with a basement. Her recounting of the history of the mill is particularly rich and detailed:
It is said that John Gannaway about 1765 operated a store and a saw mill on Gannaway Mill Creek – and a mill on Willis River for grinding corn and wheat. This mill being the ancestor of the Curdsville Mill of today. The present mill is thought to have been built by Richard Woodson Gannaway sometime before the Civil War, about 1840.
A land grant from King George II , dated September 10, 1755 and signed by Gov. Dinwiddie, gives a tract of land containing seven hundred and twenty-five acres of land described as follows: “In Albemarle County on the branches of Willis Creek” bordered on the north side by Bairds Road, John Hodnell’s and Alexander Stinson’s corner. It is further described as bounded by Joel Walker’s and Henry Perkins’ land, and as crossing Gannaway’s Mill Creek.
All this would indicate that as early as 1755 – before Buckingham was cut off from Albemarle, a mill was in operation on the present site of the Curdsville Mill.
It has often been said that a million bricks went into the building of this mill, but one familiar with such work figured that 250,000 brick were required because there is so much rock in the foundation. The mill was originally five stories high, each floor having a pitch of eleven feet. A cyclone some years ago demolished the top story and when the building was repaired it was lowered and a hip roof replaced the old gable roof which was put on the layers of brick. It now has a metal room and several dormer windows for light and ventilation. The bricks used in the building are said to have been made on the place by slave labor.
slate river ramblings . . . . 
Thanks to all of you for your interest in the Curdsville Mill. Look for more posts about it in the coming weeks. Joanne
The White Lily flour bags pictured are from the Mill at Buckingham Court House I think last operated by Joe Thompson. The Curdsville Roller Mill did not produce self rising flour at least not while operated by my daddy Thomas Alfred Harris he operated it from May 1950 until the fall of 1957..
Dear Kenneth, The image was made to represent Buckingham County mills in general. I had no image for the Curdsville Mill. Do you have a photo of mill I could post? If so, please contact me. Joanne
Katheryne, I am Greg Baldwin, I played at the Curdsville Mill as a child, my great Aunt Mamie Harvey and her husband used to own the mill and at one time lived in the old mill house. I remember the Mill, Wheel, and 4 story mill. My sister Judy and I would climb up in the rafters and jump into the grain. My 3 Great Aunts owned the Baldwin Home Place, Cacerta on Rt. 15and we would go to the mill often. I would love to go back to the site sometime and take pictures of what remains.
William, Thanks for adding your memories to the post. Joanne
Hi Mr. Baldwin,
We live on Mill Rd. & have enjoyed seeing the old homeplace & remnants of the mill
through the years. Would love to hear all of your memories/stories about the Mill,
your aunt’s home, the old Baldwin home! We know the family that lives there now.
Please contact me at boyersx7@gmail.com as we’d love to converse w/ you more.
Where are you living these days? Do you remember Wesley Dunkum? We bought
his uncle’s farm on the road to the Mill, he lived across the creek from us & remembers
the mill very well. Thanks, Debra
Katheryn, I am located in Charlottesville, Va. I don’t know if I ever met Mr. Dunkun, maybe when I was young? I would like to go down sometime and see the old house and foundation,etc. Fond memories of Cacerta and the mill. Thanks for getting back to me. Greg
The old home is still standing only remnants left of the mill.
Sure. There are only remnants left of the mill.
Hi Katheryn,
We are neighbors on Mill Rd. Have you met and talked with Mr. Dunkum who has many
stories to tell you about your place & the mill? Contact me at boyersx7@gmail.com and
I’ll get you in touch w/ him. Have a great day! Debra
Debra
Thank you for the information. Please send me contact information for Mr. Dunkum to boxercash13@gmail.com
I currently own the old curds ville mill site. It is very hard to find out any information or see any pictures of it.
Katheryn, Thanks for writing. The only documentation I have of the Curdsville Mill is Elizabeth McCraw’s survey. There was no photograph submitted with it.
If you would like to take pictures for the blog. There is an old house, the old water wheel, and the dam on the old curdsville mill.
Katheryn,
I currently own the site of “Rock Mill” on the Willis River. Do you have any knowledge of it or a resource to find out?
Thanks,
Norm
I have a copy of the slate and Willis river atlas that lists the locks and mills on the Willis river. I don’t see a listing for that mill what road number is it located on.
Katheryn,
Rock Mill is on Rt. 633 just down the hill from Arcanum going towards Buckingham courthouse. Any information about Rock Mill is welcome.
Norm
Katheryn, Thanks for reminding me to take a look at my copy of “The Slate and Willis’s River Atlas.” Watch for a post soon about this marvelous resource.
Katheryn, At some point I would love to photograph what remains of Curdsville Mill. Thanks for the offer!
I grew up in between Curdsville & Sheppards and visited this mill. It also had a fire that finally closed it. We used to go fishing there.
Thanks, Kathy, for the information about the fire at the mill. Joanne