Chapman's Mill

Turn The Mill Around Campaign
P.O. Box 207
Broad Run, Virginia 20137
540-253-5888

FROM: ELLEN PERCYMILLER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TURN THE MILL AROUND CAMPAIGN

The Chapman's/Beverley Mill received $500,000 from the Wrinkle In Time Foundation, a charitable organization in The Plains, Virginia. This money will be used to complete the stabilization of the west, north and east walls of the mill. The 63 windows and doors will also be permanently stabilized. Cintec America, the English firm who stabilized the west wall of the mill in 2004, will start this work in the next few weeks. Cintec America is known for having developed the internal anchor system, which stabilizes structures through the insertion of steel rods and concrete into the walls, thus leaving the historical façade in its original state. People interested in this stabilization process may learn more by visiting the Chapman's/Beverley Mill website, www.chapmansmill.org, for pictures and explanation of the earlier stabilization of the large, south wall. This website will add pictures of the current stabilization process as it ensues.

Chapman's Mill was built by Jonathan and Nathaniel Chapman, the father and son partnership that oversaw the building of the mill by slaves in about 1742. After a fire in 1848, the then owner, John Chapman, the fifth generation of Chapman's to own the mill, built it to its current height, seven stories on the western side. Chapman's/Beverley Mill is the tallest stone structure in the United States. It is difficult for stone buildings to be erected over four stories. After the mill was burned during the Civil War, it was purchased and rebuilt to it former height, by the Beverley family. From that time on the mill locally retained the name of Beverley Mill; however historians refer to it as Chapman's Mill.

Historians say that the Second Battle of Manassas was decided a day earlier, on August 28, 1862 at the Battle of Thoroughfare Gap in and around Chapman's Mill and the quarry from which its stones were quarried.

After the arson fire of the mill in October 1998, Turn The Mill Around Campaign, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, composed of local, concerned citizens began the task of restoring the mill walls and opening the site to the public as an interpreted ruins. In 2000 it received a $300,000 grant of TEA-21 monies from VDOT, as well as numerous donations from other foundations, organizations, and individuals. Ellen PercyMiller, the Executive Director stated that the next phase of the restoration project will be its site development so that it may be opened to the public. This will cost about $500,000. Donations will be very much welcomed and may be sent to Turn The Mill Around Campaign, P.O. Box 207, Broad Run, Va. 20137. Ellen PercyMiller can be reached at 540-253-5888 or