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The
History of Bush Mill
The original mill was a log structure built on Amos Branch in the late 1800's and was destroyed by fire on April Fool's Day. Farmers working in nearby fields were reluctant to come help fight the fire when asked because they thought it was an April Fool's joke. After they became aware that the mill was actually on fire, they came to help; but it was too far gone to save it. Valentine Bush constructed the present building in 1896. The metal wheel (supplying 30 hp) replaced a hand-built wooden wheel in the 1920's. Located above the mill on the same Amos Branch was a water powered saw mill with a water powered wool carding machine located below the mill. Not too long ago every creek and stream had at least one mill on it. On Saturday, local residents would throw a turn of grain on their backs or on their horse and take it to the mill to be ground. The days of the neighborhood mill are gone now, but one of those mills is back in production, grinding grain the old fashioned way between precision stone burrs driven by the power of falling water.
The Bush Mill Project
The Bush Mill Project is an school-based enterprise established with the support of the Nickelsville Ruritan Club, the Scott County School System, the Rural Area Development Association, the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority and the Virginia REAL Enterprise program. Begun in October of 2001, the project teaches youth ages 14-21 how to own and operate their own business: a 106 year old corn meal and flour mill at historic Bush Mill. In addition to creating a school-based enterprise, a historic landmark is being restored and repaired, bringing tourism and and retail opportunities to the area.
Six students participating in the Rural Area Development Association program worked on making repairs to the millrace and the historic mill after school and on weekends. During the Christmas season, students worked with Ruritan Club members to open and promote the "Country Mill Store" at Bush Mill, the first attempt at a retail outlet for the corn and flour products. In an area where community pride has been damaged by years of hard times, this project has awakened the desire to reinforce the bonds between youth, their mentors and their home place.
The Lonesome Pine Office on Youth provides technical support for the development of the school-based enterprise, and provides support for the REAL Enterprise youth entrepreneurship curriculum. The Nickelsville Ruritan Club is caretaker of the mill and works with youth. The four remaining millers in the area are passing their skills on to the youth as they work on the actual mill and grind corn. The Scott County School System is developing the school-based enterprise, connecting Bush Mill with marketing and education efforts at Twin Springs High School. And the Heart of Appalachia Tourism Authority is providing support for promoting Bush Mill in tour books and on web sites.
The project at Bush Mill is ongoing. Check out the student designed Bush Mill website for more information on tours, merchandise and upcoming events.
The Springboard Award
In the spring of 2002 the Lonesome Pine Office on Youth, in conjunction with the other organizations involved won the Appalachian Regional Commission's (ARC) Appalachian Youth Entrepreneurship Education Springboard Award for the Bush Mill Project. The award was one of only six awarded in the 13 state Appalachian region and the only one in the state of Virginia. Each award winner received a $2,000 grant to continue their work in youth entrepreneurship and a commemorative plaque. This grant, along with other grant funds from the ARC has allowed for many repairs to the mill and the millrace so that this project may continue for years to come. The picture to the right is of several of the people involved in the project at the Springboard Award Ceremony in Washington, D.C. this spring.