On the property to the east of the house are the ruins of Shaver Mill, a limestone gristmill known to be in operation in the mid 19th century.  In the 1970s, stones were taken from the mill and used to build the attched sympathetic addition to the north of the main house (far right photo above). 

Only one partial wall of the mill is still standing above ground, largely supported by one very determined lintel.  Leading to the mill from the west and across the entire width of the property is a meandering millrace that once allowed movement of water from a high point on Joe's Creek approximately 300 yards to the west.

Shaver Mill is featured in the book, Mills of Rockingham County, Vol. II, by Janet & Earl Downs.

The Shaver family owned the stone house, mill and surrounding property from 1829 until 1948.  For information about the Shavers, go to the Past & Present Owners page.

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An 1853 entry from Silas Fisher's Day Book (purchased at a local auction) reads, 

                    "Sept 10   put 25 Bushels wheat in Shavers Mill and got 82 lbs flour"

While this day book entry appears to be substantial documentation, it is known that in 1849, Abraham Breneman sold his mill (the nearby Breneman/Turner Mill) to George Shaver, so the reference could actually be to the other local mill.   

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John G. Shaver (Muncie, IN) wrote in an October 4, 1969 letter to Agnes Kline (Harrisonburg, VA):

"I have an old account book which, from the dates (1831 to 1861) belonged to George Shaver who married Hannah Sites.  The earliest dates for the entries recorded the transactions in pounds, shilling and pence in some instances, and in dollar and cents in most instances.  This book indicates that George had a mill since there are entries for the sale of mill products, and there are a couple of entries referring to George Shaver's mill.  In addition to the stone house on the farm on Joe's Creek there was a stone mill."

"I do not recall my father ever having talked about operating the mill on our farm - I am sure it was never operated past the time back to which my memory goes which would be about 1918.  I am sure I have heard my father talk about his father (who is the George who married Elizabeth Burkholder) having operated it.  Since my grandfather died in 1906 I suspect it may not have been operated much in this century.  As to the age of the mill on our farm (where I was born, along with my two sisters - 1909 to 1913), I would say that it probably goes back to at least 1831 based on the account book."

The following two photos were taken in the fall of 2006:

                                           The photo below is from winter 2005:

                                          The photo below is winter 2002-2003:

The last two photos are of Shaver Mill circa 1960.  Many of these stones were used in the 1970s to build a sympathetic stone addition to the north of the main house.  The main wall shown here (photo directly below) is the partial wall that is standing today.

      Below photo: The wall on the right is the one that is still partially standing.