(TOP) The foundation rocks remain on the banks of the Catawba River for the historic Garrison mill site!
Riverwalk @ Rock Hill, S.C.
City Directories and History: The foundation stones for the historic Garrison or Webb’s Mill site remains visible along the riverbank at Riverwalk.
R&R HISTORY LINK: MR. FREDERICK NIMS, AN ENGINEER
Historian Louis Pettus shared the following: “In 1875 Thomas Dryden Spratt, a grandson of the pioneer Thomas “Kanawah” Spratt wrote, “Recollections of His Family.” In this he wrote, “The exact boundary of the land my grandfather leased from the Catawbas is not known. The first survey of his land, I believe, was made by William Dickson in 1787. The number of acres was then 4,700.
However, before that date he had sold or bartered away several parcels. He had some detached tracts besides this; one of which, containing some 150 or 200 acres, he gave for a saddle. It was the place in Providence settlement, in Mecklenburg Co. N. C., afterward owned by Mr. Potts. He gave a tract on Steel Creek to Mr. Garrison, to build a mill near him, the first grist mill to be built in the Catawba Indian Land and the gristmill that made Fort Mill in 1833. It is now owned by Capt. Samuel Elliott White. Also, he sold the mill-seat just across from the Island for a song, as they say.”
The Yorkville Enquirer reported on Sept. 2, 1869 – “We have received from the proprotors a sample of the excellent flour produced at Carother’s Mill situated on the Catawba River, a short distance from the bridge of the Charlotte and S.C. railroad.”
This image is of the Catawba River railroad trestle bridge, which remained after the flood of 1916. This location is just North of the Garrison Mill site.
The Herald reported April 2, 1902 – “Mr. Edgar Jones will erect a roller mill at the old Garrison Mill site. The old building, erected in 1845, has been torn down and lumber has been hauled to the river for the new building. It will be two stories and built on the foundations of the old building. Machinery in the flouring dept. will be new with a capacity of thirty barrels per day. The burr in the old mill will be used for meal in the new mill. Mr. Jones will be associated with his father, Mr. W. I. Jones and will establish a ferry at the mill. The flat to be used there, is now being made. This will be the nearest possible way from Rock Hill to Fort Mill.”
The Herald reported on May 20, 1903 – “An outing was held at Garrison’s Mill on the banks of the Catawba River. The group from Rock Hill included: Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Heath, Mr. and Mrs. S.T. Frew, Dr. and Mrs. W.W. Fennell, Mrs. R.P. Boyd, and the Misses Pauline Mullins and Johnson.” Saw Mill History
The Rock Hill Record reported on March 22, 1909 – “Mr. W.L. Plexico, real estate dealer, sold to Mr. C.L. Cobb, Trustee, the Schooley Farm near the Carhartt Mill on the Catawba River containing 115 acres.”
The Fort Mill Times reported Aug. 18, 1910 – “The Times was incorrect in our report that the Carhartt Roller Mill, formerly Jone’s Mill, on the Catawba River, two miles from Fort Mill had closed and that the use of the Ferry had been discontinued as a result of the death of the miller and ferryman. The mill is running daily and is prepared to grind the community’s wheat and corn as usual.”
OTHER – YORK DISTRICT INDUSTRY CENSUS-1850 Name Description Power No. Employed Products: Springs & White Value-$6,000 Milling water 2 1000 bu wheat; 500 bu. com; 250 ft lumber / Schooley & Harris Milling water 2 500 bu wheat; 500 bu com / James Carothers Milling water 1 700 bu wheat; 400 bu. com / Moses Lindsay Milling water 1 200 ft. lumber / Joseph Worthy & Bio Mining water 4 9000 bu. ore / Robert Whitesides Milling water 1 12,000 ft lumber / Robertson & Whitesides Milling water 1 300 bu wheat; 600 bu. com / William McGill Milling water 1 400 bu wheat; 229 bu com / Kings Mountain Iron Co / James Killpatrick Iron work water 50 765,700 lb. iron & castings Milling water 1 500 bu wheat; 400 bu com Abram ? / Stowe Milling water 1 400 bu. wheat; 150 bu com / James Wright Milling water 2 500 bu com; 400 bu. wheat/ Arthur McKenzie Milling water 2 400 bu wheat; 400 bu. com.
Note the old road bed on this 1946 map shows the location of Garrison – Webb’s Mill crossing on the Catawba River.
Important link to the history of mill sites: Catawba Mill Sites
Also see Red River Mill Village and Jefferson Davis’s Flight for added data.
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R&R HISTORY LINK: the Crossroads Antebellum School / Cross Roads School…
R&R HISTORY LINK: WYLIE DAM – NEARBY HISTORY
R&R HISTORY LINK: CARHARTT’S MANSION – NEARBY HISTORY
R&R HISTORY LINK: PLANTATION – NEARBY HISTORY
R&R HISTORY LINK: SPRATT HOMESTEAD – NEARBY HISTORY
One of York County’ early families who lived near George Pendleton White, was that of the Webb family. It appears from this receipt dated 1833, they were running a store in Fort Mill and later the grist mill on the river. Courtesy of the White Family Collection – 2008
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