Murray's Mill Historic District

Murray's Mill Historic District is a mill complex in Catawba County featuring over 20 buildings dating from the 1880s to mid-20th century, including a two-story mill building, worker and family residences, and support structures. The property spreads across more than 150 acres and displays a complete working grain-milling operation with its associated living quarters.

William Murray established the original mill, and his son John built the current mill structure in 1913 to replace the earlier operation. The installation of a 22-foot overshot waterwheel and later a Eureka roller mill system demonstrate the technological improvements the family invested in over time.

The mill operated as a gathering place where local farmers brought grain and shared news with each other. The arrangement of buildings across the property reflects how closely the Murray family worked alongside their employees and neighbors.

The site is accessible Thursday through Friday from June to September and on weekends from March to November. Guided tours explain the traditional milling processes and how water power operated the machinery.

Inside the mill building, original French buhr millstones weighing one ton each are still in place, showing how heavy and durable the equipment had to be. These massive stones are visible as you walk through the historic spaces where grain was processed the same way over a century ago.