Zirkle Mill, Gristmill in Forestville, Virginia, US.
Zirkle Mill is a gristmill with a hand-hewn log frame and weatherboard siding built on a limestone foundation in Shenandoah County. The structure is surrounded by walnut trees and features a traditional colonial-era construction.
The building was constructed in the 1760s by German settlers from Pennsylvania and supplied flour to the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. The mill played an important role in local food supply during that period.
The original French Burr millstones and the 1895 roller milling equipment visible inside show how grain processing evolved over centuries. Visitors can observe the different techniques that were used at different times to grind grain.
The site is accessible to visitors and is maintained by two direct descendants of Andrew Zirkle. The owners plan to transform the property into an educational center about historical milling practices.
During the Civil War, miller Samuel Hockman saved the building from destruction by Union troops by displaying a United States flag on the structure. This quick action preserved the historic building from damage.
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