Flourville Mill
The old mill which gave Flourville its name. This mill was built in the mid 1800s, probably on the same spot used by William Bean, Tennessee's first permanent settler, to build his grist mill. The location takes advantage of a large bend in Boone's Creek in which the elevation drops about 40-50 feet. The Mill becomes a short cut for the water. I'm told some of the original equipment is still inside. The old wheel is gone, though.
William Bean's effort to construct his little grist mill is a beautifully instructive lesson in how stunningly fast Tennessee was settled. He built his first cabin, probably very near where the old springhouse (upcoming photo) stands, in 1769. That is generally recognized as the first "permanent" settlement by anyone other than an American Indian in the history of Tennessee. Eleven years later, in 1780, Bean decided to build his grist mill. He had to go to Jonesborough and apply for a permit.
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© Dan MacDonald Photography
