The Roller Mill in Transition
In 1995 the Board of Directors
made the decision to close the mill and sell the property. Rowan Savings
Bank, which is located adjacent to the mill,
purchased the property for
$50,000 in 1996. After reserving a portion of the land for the bank use,
the remainder of the land and the buildings were offered
to the Historical Society of China Grove for the price of $25,000. In order to encourage the Society to raise the necessary funds for the purchase, repairs and maintenance of the property, the Rowan Savings Bank agreed to donate $10,000 to the Society if they raised $90,000. Within six weeks the money
had been raised from donations by individuals, businesses and organizations. On November 15,1996 the China Grove Roller Mill officially became the
property of the Historical Society of China Grove.
In October 2004 the Historical Society received a $25,000 grant from the
NC Department of Cultural Resources to help with the $450,000 renovation
project. In December 2005 a major renovation project was completed for
the Roller Mill. An all purpose room suitable for meetings, receptions,
and conferences was added to the mill along with a catering kitchen,
display areas, souvenir shop, and restrooms. The all purpose room is
equipped with audio-visual equipment showing videos of the mill with
former mill workers, Jack, Frank and James Miller, explaining the
milling process.
The Roller Mill is an agricultural museum. In addition to the original mill equipment, there are farming artifacts dating back to the 1800's on display. These items serve as a reminder of the life of the Rowan County farmer when farming was the backbone of the community.
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