|
IN 1856 ARCHIBALD F. LEONARD (1818-1876) BUILT A DAM AND GRAIN MILL AT THIS SITE. HIRAM CROWLEY HELPED RUN THE MILL AND BECAME A PARTNER. THE MILL BECAME A COMMUNITY CENTER AND A COUNTY VOTING PLACE. DURING WIDE-SPREAD ABOLITION VIOLENCE IN 1860, LEONARD'S MILL WAS BURNED. IT WAS REOPENED BY 1862 AND OPERATED DURING THE CIVIL WAR. OWNERS AFTER 1867 WERE H. B. ALVERSON AND J. H. WHEELER. IN 1876 WHEELER'S MILL WAS ACQUIRED BY R. A. (BOB) RANDOL (1850-1922). A WATER DRIVEN TURBINE POWERED THE MILL, A CIRCULAR SAW, AND A COTTON GIN. RANDOL MILL, WHICH PLAYED AN IMPORTANT ROLE IN THE AREA ECONOMY, CLOSED AFTER RANDOL'S DEATH. |