Cross Mill 1961

Cross Mill Arts exists on a historic property whose origins trace back to the early settlement of this region of Virginia. Originally established as a grist mill, the site served the surrounding agricultural community throughout the 19th century before the rise of industrial milling rendered small local mills obsolete.

The earliest known record of the mill dates to the mid-1800s, prior to the construction of Route 54, when the land, pond, and surrounding property were associated with Lewis King. At that time, the site was known as King’s Mill, a name that is still around today in King’s Pond.

Court records indicate that in 1858, ownership of the mill passed to Samuel Tinsley, who held the property for eleven years. In 1869, it was sold to James W. Taylor, and the site became known as Taylor’s Mill on King’s Pond.

In 1875, the property was acquired by Richard and James Cross, marking the beginning of nearly a century of Cross family ownership and establishing the name by which the property is still recognized today.

In the early 1900s, the mill was sold to Howard Gilman, who significantly altered the property and constructed much of the mill house that remains standing today. In 1931, ownership returned to the Cross family under Willie L. Cross, and the mill resumed operation, producing and distributing the widely known Crosses Meal throughout the region and beyond.

The mill continued in operation until industrial-scale production ultimately brought its activity to a close somewhere in the early to mid 1900s. 

In the mid-1960s, Jack and Nancy Witt purchased the remaining structure of the former mill. Over the following years, they transformed the site into an operational foundry, studio, gallery, and home—laying the foundation for what is now Cross Mill Arts.