If spending a lifetime surrounded by the sound of rushing waterfalls in a picturesque country setting is your idea of heaven, this working gristmill and former country store for sale along with 127 acres in the rural community of Fall River, Tennessee has your name written all over it.
Pilkerton Realtors
Back in the day, the mill was the heart of the Fall River community—after its construction circa1823, homes, churches, blacksmith shops and other industrial facilities popped up in its vicinity. It was burned to the ground during the Civil War—an act that threatened to decimate the community—but was rebuilt shortly thereafter.
Pilkerton Realtors
By 1885, the property was passed into the hands of the White family, and by the 1920s G.T. Wilburn (a relative of the Whites whose name is still associated with the small-town landmark) had transformed an already thriving business into an even more successful flour and cornmeal operation. Wilburn ceased operation of the mill in the 1950s, but continued to operate the general store until his death in the 1970s.
Pilkerton Realtors
Pilkerton Realtors
Traversing the grounds today, it's almost impossible not to feel connected to the estate's 200-year history. The old farmhouse still stands, the rushing waterfalls from the Clear Creek are as active as ever, and the general store (which was run by Wilburn's son until 2000) is waiting to begin its next life. All that's missing is the sound of horse hooves and grinding wheels amidst the chatter of workers about to begin a day at the mill.
Pilkerton Realtors
Pilkerton Realtors
What is perhaps much striking about the property is the degree to which the mill has been preserved despite being out of operation. In its tarnished state, the machinery is a beautiful sight to behold—a relic from a time when craftsmanship mattered and pieces were built to last centuries.
Pilkerton Realtors
With so much history left intact, the business possibilities here are endless. As a tribute to the family that has maintained the property since 1885, we can envision a museum and educational center dedicated to the local milling history. Other potential uses range from a film production studio to a retreat center to a tranquil spa. Many more potential uses are listed on the website that the sellers created to market the property.
Pilkerton Realtors
Pilkerton Realtors
Of course, we'd prefer to keep the whole kit-and-kaboodle to ourselves, undertaking a restoration of the historic farmhouse and reopening the store in an effort to preserve this most significant legacy.
Pilkerton Realtors
Asking price: $899,000
For more information, contact Jim Beuerlein with Pilkerton Realtors at (615) 351-3000.
Writer Elizabeth Finkelstein is a self-proclaimed old house addict on a lifelong hunt for her perfect historic home. From big Victorian fixer-uppers to tiny colonials to mid-century modern masterpieces, Elizabeth believes that the best homes show the charm of having been loved over time. She chronicles it all on her website CIRCA Old Houses, which showcases beautiful old houses for sale across the country. See more at CircaOldHouses.com.
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