Van Dorn Mill

The Van Dorn grist mill was built by Samuel Lewis in 1768 of wood. It was rebuilt out of stone in 1843. Stones were collected from nearby farms, and builders were paid one dollar per day to build the magnificent structure that stands today.

This mill ground grain for colonial troops during the revolutionary war, and is said to be one of the finest examples of stone workmanship in the area.

In 1841, Ferdinand Van Dorn purchased the mill and farm from the Woodwards. He was not satisfied with the mill and decided to build a new one down stream. The original mill still stands on at the corner of Childs Road and Route 202 on the way to Jockey Hollow in Morristown.

The pictures below give you some idea of the size and majesty of the structure, and of the fine workmanship that went into it's construction. The mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. A plaque commemorating the life and community contributions of William Childs has been placed on the front of the structure.