THE Turn the Mill around Campaign
Preserving Virginia History for nearly thirty years
Since its founding in 1998, the Turn the Mill Around Campaign has worked tirelessly to protect and stabilize the Chapman-Beverley Mill.
The Thoroughfare Gap
The Turn the Mill Around Campaign took ownership of the Chapman-Beverly Mill shortly after a 1998 arson attack nearly destroyed the structure.
Since then, the campaign has striven to preserve the Mill and make it accessible to the public. The mission of TMAC is to preserve the Chapman-Beverley Mill, to provide public access to the Mill site, to develop interpretive programs concerning the significance of the Mill and Thoroughfare Gap, and to raise funds to carry out these goals.
The Chapman-Beverley Mill project is a unique and valuable undertaking in the field of historic preservation. TMAC has chosen to preserve the Mill as a ruin site, showcasing the architectural, engineering and historic elements of the building as it stands after the fire of 1998.
The master plan
Since TTMAC received the Chapman – Beverley Mill property shortly after the 1998 arson that nearly destroyed the structure, the campaign has striven to both preserve the Mill and make it accessible to the public. Our first order of business was to stabilize the Mill structure. With stabilization completed in the mid-2000’s, we looked to discover more about the site through archaeology. Now, with our archaeological survey underway, we seek to share all we’ve learnt with the public!
Beginning in Fall 2016, TTMAC began improving the Mill site by installing a bus turnaround area and handicapped parking area. When that work is completed, we anticipate adding walking paths, informational signage and hopefully increasing hours of access.
Help us make the plan a reality. Donate today!
Stabilization proGRESS
The Chapman/ Beverley Mill stabilization project was a unique and valuable undertaking in the field of historic preservation. TTMAC has chosen to preserve the Mill as a ruin site, showcasing the architectural, engineering and historic elements of the building as it stands after the fire of 1998. Cutting-edge technology was used for the structural stabilization of the mill building. An internal anchoring system, developed in Europe for historic masonry buildings, was successfully implemented in Phase I of the project by Cintec America. Completed in May 2004, Phase I included the structural stabilization of the south wall (actually seven stories high and in the worst condition) and corners, lead capping on all upward facing surfaces of the entire building and emergency shoring of all window openings (49 total).
The engineering for the stabilization of the north, east, and west walls was completed in the spring of 2006. The contractors chosen for this specialized historic preservation project are experts in their fields. They are Cintec America, Inc. – Structural Anchoring Systems, Conservation Solutions, Inc. – Project Management, Standard Restoration and Waterproofing – Masonry and Scaffold Resource, Inc. – Scaffolding. Phase II stabilization of the last three walls was completed by July 2006.
Chapman-Beverley Mill is believed to be the tallest stacked stone building in the United States