BRENEMAN-TURNER MILL

Being preserved by Valley Brethen Mennonite Heritage Center

This historic mill is located on Breneman's Church Road just west of Route 42 about 2 miles north of Harrisonburg. Guests may visit at any time to explore the grounds. To see the inside by appointment, call Ken Weaver at (540) 833-1449.

The Cabell Foundation of Richmond, Va., has given a $30,000 matching grant toward preservation of the Breneman-Turner Mill located two miles north of Harrisonburg, Va. The Cabell Foundation, established in 1957 by Robert III and Maude Morgan Cabell, is dedicated to provide financial support for historic preservation and restoration of buildings in Virginia that are owned by organizations exempt from taxation under the Internal Revenue Code. “Because the mill is a state and federal landmark lodged under the non-profit umbrella of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center, it meets the Cabell Foundation’s qualifications for support,” notes Ken Weaver, chair of the Breneman-Turner Mill Preservation Committee.   “And because of this $30,000 challenge grant, we have set a goal to raise $30,000 by December 31, 2008,” Weaver adds. With this goal in mind, Weaver’s committee is sponsoring an open house on Saturday, September 13, 2-5 p.m., to invite community members and supporters of the mill preservation effort to come and hear a progress report on efforts to preserve the mill and its heritage for future generations. “If we can raise $30,000 by December 31, 2008, we can begin to dismantle and rebuild the deteriorating south wall,” Weaver says, “which has been braced to preserve an otherwise sound structure.” The mill was built about 1800 along Linville Creek in northwest Rockingham County and formed a center for community life of early pioneers to the area. It operated continuously until 1988. Anyone interested in supporting this preservation effort may contact Weaver at (540) 833-1449, or the VBMHC at (540) 438-1275. Photos: Top right - Breneman-Turner Mill with the braced south wall that needs to be rebuilt. Lower left - Gordon Shantz is shown sharpening one of the mill stones in preparation for future use. Photo Credits: Allen Brubaker.

Members of the Breneman-Turner Mill Preservation Committee include Kenneth J. Weaver, chair, Steve Shenk, executive director of VBMHC, Ruth Stoltzfus Jost, John R. Martin, Becky Messerley and Eugene Stoltzfus. Breneman-Turner Mill Designated as an Historic State and National Landmark in November 2006 Ceremony Officials of the Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center and the Breneman-Turner Mill Preservation Committee installed new historic plaques in a ceremony attended by over 30 people on Nov. 12, 2006. Photo Credit: Tom Sawin. The mill, built ca. 1800 by Mennonite pioneer Abraham Breneman along Linville Creek north of Harrisonburg, Va., survived the burning of the Shenandoah Valley by Union troops during the Civil War. The mill was authenticated last March as “a prime historical property” by being listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a Virginia Historic Landmark. The last miller, Howard Turner, died in 1988 and in 2003 his family donated the mill to Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center. Photo Credit: Tom Sawin. Pictured mounting the plaques is Ken Weaver, who chairs the committee that is raising funds to preserve the mill (at left). Below, Elma Collins, the miller’s daughter adds a screw, assisted by Dale McAllister and Robert Alley (left to right).   Photo Credit: Tom Sawin. - Already the committee has spent $35,000 to brace the south wall that was collapsing. The next project is rebuilding the wall at a cost of about $86,000. Weaver’s committee is soliciting “charter preservation members” at $1,000 a person. To respond, call (540) 438-1275. Call Weaver directly at (540) 833-1449 if you would like a tour of the mill. Photo Credit: Tom Sawin.   November 2005 Open House Includes Announcement of Preservation Plans by Heritage Center   Breneman-Turner Mill, built ca. 1800 by Mennonite Abraham Breneman, is one of the largest and oldest surviving in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. It was in operation until 1988. The mill has been donated to Valley Brethren Mennonite Heritage Center. and is being preserved by this organization. See Photo Album of Breneman-Turner Mill Open House, November 6, 2005 Breneman-Turner Mill Preservation Committee Seeks Charter Members Nearly 200 neighbors, friends and relatives of previous owners of the mill turned out Sunday, 2-5 p.m., November 6, 2005, to hear plans to preserve this historic mill along Brenneman Church Road three miles north of Harrisonburg. The mill, originally built about 1800 by Abraham Breneman, a Mennonite pioneer who migrated from eastern Pennsylvania in 1770, is in need of repair, particularly the south wall which has begun to bulge and sag. In March of this year the Lantz Construction Co. of Broadway built supports on the outside to stabilize the wall until it can be dismantled and rebuilt (see photo above). According to historian John Heatwole, "...mills, along with churches and stores, were the centers of communities. The preservation of the historic Breneman-Turner Mill will add to our understanding of the world in which our ancestors lived and prospered." A Breneman-Turner Mill Preservation Committee, headed by Kenneth J. Weaver, sponsored Sunday's open house to give descendants of mill owners and neighbors of the mill an opportunity to become charter members of the mill's preservation. CrossRoads is still seeking funds to preserve the mill. If interested, call Steve Shenk (540) 438-1275 or Ken Weaver (540) 833-1449. Charter members contribute $1,000, Benefactors $2,000 - $5,000 and Honorary Members $10,000. At right: Jim Herr displays one of the bags Turner used to sell his flour.

The Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation has awarded two $10,000 grants designated to help preserve the Breneman-Turner Mill. The review board of SVBF unanimously agreed to fund this project with the maximum amount allowed. Only a small percentage of applicants were favored with this level of funding. In fact, only a portion of the applicants received any funding.

SVBF agrees that VBMHC will compliment other Civil War-focused attractions, interpreting how the war touched the lives of the people of the Valley during that time in our history. Because these are matching grants, it meant the community needed to contribute an additional $20,000 for the project to complete our requirements for accepting the grant money.

The $40,000 raised through these matching grants was applied toward acquisition costs (legal fees, surveys, site planning, design, fundraising, etc.) and stabilization of the collapsing south wall. The next project is rebuilding this wall at a cost of $86,000.

Fund raising events are currently being planned to raise the necessary capital to preserve this historic gem along Linville Creek. Persons interested in supporting this exciting project should contact us at (540) 438-1275.

This mill is one of the largest surviving mills in the Central Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Built ca. 1800 by Mennonite Abraham Breneman, it was operated continuously until 1988. The four flours contain the grist mill equipment in place at the time the mill ceased operation with the death of the last owner, J. Howard Turner, whose family donated the mill to VBMHC in 2003.

The mill is remarkably well maintained with both the structure and the machinery of the mill in near-original condition. The Flemish-bond brickwork, the carved beams and the beaded floorboards are original 19th century workmanship.

Opening Breneman-Turner Mill to the public will help preserve, interpret and promote the Valley’s Civil War heritage. The rich history of the mill and the surrounding area will be brought to life with interpretive programs. This mill is also one of the major stops on the driving tours offered by VBMHC. For more information on these self-guided tours, call (540) 438-1275.

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CrossRoads Home Page
Valley Brethren-Mennonite Heritage Center
Location: 1921A Heritage Center Way (Off Garbers Church Road) Harrisonburg, Va.
Mailing Address: P. O. Box 1563, Harrisonburg 22803
(540) 438-1275