Isaac Newton Alexander Grist Mill

Isaac Newton Alexander Grist Mill igrohs (Atlas Obscura User)

A farmer named Isaac Newton Alexander bought a large tract of land along Briar Creek in 1857. Shortly after, he built a two-story grist mill on the site and hired millers to operate the device.

The mill processed corn and wheat for local farmers, and was one of the first in the area to process cottonseed, peanut, and castor bean oil. It was in operation until 1896 when the mill finally shut down operations due to the addition of larger, more efficient mills in the area.

Today, the ruins of the mill are visible along the Briar Creek greenway on the edge of the Myers Park High School campus. The ruins can be freely explored and the site includes an informational sign about the mill’s history.

Know Before You Go

Cannot access via Hassell place, it’s a dead end cul de sac. Park at Myers’s park high school, past the seniors lot. Walk down schools cross country trail toward the water.