October 16, 2014 / Joanne Yeck

Buckingham County: Williams Mill, Part Two

Williams Mills, c. 2000, Photo Courtesy Alice Scott

Circa 1950, Vallie Booth wrote about Williams Mill and its long-time owner Roy Gormus:

Meet Roy Gormus . . . Versatile Miller

Do you want some corn meal ground? Call Roy Gormus. Need any logs sawed? Call Gormus. Desire the services of a blacksmith? Call Gormus. Fresh out of supplies at the country store? Call Gormus. J. Roy Gormus is a mighty important man in his neck of the woods. He operates a general store, sawmill and grist mill.

Roy Gormus (1878—1965), Photo by William Edwin Booth

Roy Gormus was the epitome of a useful man in Buckingham County. He told Vallie Booth:

“Specialize? Not me! I like to keep busy all the time. By doing a bit of everything. I help more people. They just come to me, and chances are that because I generalize I’m their man. It gives a guy a feeling the he is a useful man in the community.”

Special thanks to Alice Scott for sharing her family history.