Gish Mill

{{Short description|Historic mill in Virginia}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}}

{{Infobox NRHP

| name = Gish Mill

| nrhp_type =

| image = Gish Mill.jpg

| caption = Gish Mill in 2023

| location = 350 Gus Nicks Blvd.
Vinton, Virginia, United States

| alt = A photo of the exterior of an historic mill pictured in the daytime

| coordinates = {{coord|37|17|00|N|79|53|59|W}}

| locmapin = USA Virginia

| map_alt = A map of Virginia with a red dot near the southwestern portion of the state.

| built = 1846

| added = November 18, 2021

| refnum = 100007188

}}

Gish Mill (also known as Gish's Mill) is an historic gristmill located in Vinton, Virginia, United States.

Brothers Christian and David Gish, Sr., early settlers in the region, operated a mill on the site as early as 1797.{{Cite book |last1=Moseley |first1=Irma |title=Vinton History 1884 to 1984 |last2=Forbes |first2=Madeline |publisher=Centennial Committee |year=1984 |pages=9}} The original section of the current structure dates to circa 1846, and was built on Glade Creek in Roanoke County by David Gish, Jr.Kate Kronau and Alison Blanton (June 2020). [https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/149-0057_Gish_Mill_2021_NRHP_Final.pdf "National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Gish Mill"] (PDF). Virginia Department of Historic Resources. The mill was one of several on Glade and nearby Wolf Creeks built by members of the Gish family, giving the area its informal name of Gish's Mills (later Gish's Mill) before incorporating as the Town of Vinton in 1884.{{Cite book |last=Kagey |first=Deedie |title=When Past is Prologue: A history of Roanoke County |publisher=Roanoke County Sesquicentennial Committee |year=1988 |pages=266-267}} The mill's importance in Vinton's history is reflected in its depiction on the town's official seal.{{Cite web |title=Vinton's History |url=https://www.vintonchamber.com/our-history |access-date=May 1, 2023 |website=www.vintonchamber.com |language=en}}

The facility originally utilized water-powered millstones for grinding, but was converted to an electric roller mill in the early 20th century. It survived at least two instances of fire, once in 1924 and again in 1940,{{Cite book |last=Barnes |first=Raymond |title=A History of the City of Roanoke |publisher=Commonwealth Press, Inc. |year=1968 |pages=807}} yet saw continued use as a mill into the 21st century. The most recent tenant ceased operations in 2014,{{Cite web |date=September 23, 2015 |title=Town set to buy Holdren’s Country Store - Vinton Messenger |url=https://vintonmessenger.com/town-set-to-buy-holdrens-country-store/ |access-date=May 1, 2023 |language=en-US}} and after a period of disuse, the structure has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.{{Cite web |title=149-0057 Gish Mill |url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/historic-registers/149-0057/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=www.dhr.virginia.gov |language=en-US}} {{As of|2023|August}} it is in the process of restoration as a mixed-use development consisting of lodging, commercial, and restaurant space.{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Aila |date=December 8, 2020 |title=Vinton’s Gish’s Mill Awarded Redevelopment Funds |url=https://theroanoker.com/api/content/b417f32c-398e-11eb-b643-12f503a6b731/ |access-date=April 28, 2023 |website=TheRoanoker.com |language=en-us}}