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I am indebted to Mr. Douglas Hawkins of West Linn ORE for the following
information sent to me in July of 2006:
This mill is located in Madison County, Virginia, on Deep Run and
less than a half-mile northwest of US-29, and has been in my family
since an ownership interest was acquired by my great-grandfather in
1862. Currently, it is owned by my brother (a UVa graduate and member
of historic Hebron Lutheran Church).
The names Wayland's Mill, Era Mill, Company Mill, and Hawkins' Mill
have also been used to describe the 18-acre property upon which the
mill is situated. After a U.S. Post Office was established at the
mill in the early 20th century, and assigned the name "Zeus," the
mill slowly but surely became known by the name of the post office.
The mill and post office operated until the mid-1940s. The post
office was then disestablished and the mill structure was salvaged
for its wood and timbers; since then the stone foundation has gone to
ruin.
In the close up picture of the entrance to the post office (located
in the mill's office), you can see the sign that refers to my
grandmother, Lila Belle Hawkins, who was postmistress till the day it
closed.
The photo of the mill race with the side of a building in the
foreground captures the fish-shaped weather vane on the roof of the
cooper's shop. I have on display in my home the metal template used
to stencil the barrels that were made there.
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