The Mill Turns 100!

A Big Celebration!

This past Saturday (October 16, 2010), Casanova’s Coffees & Fudge — now The Coffee Mill in Lewisville — hosted a party in honor of Lewisville Roller Mills’ 100th Anniversary. The mill was built in 1910 by J. P. Sprinkle and was purchased by my grandfather, Fielden H. Jennings Sr., in 1925. (An extensive photo history of the mill and the Jennings family can be found at Lewisville Roller Mills – One Family’s Story. The plural usage of the word “Mills” in the name “Lewisville Roller Mills” is also explained.)

Fun, Food, Music & More

With the backdrop of a beautiful fall day, the mill’s big 100th birthday bash ran from 1:00 till 4:00 p.m. at the site of Casanova’s Coffees & Fudge on the western end of the old mill building. The celebration also served as an opportunity to donate books and money to the Lewisville Library. In fact, three “gently used” books could be swapped for a FREE 1/4 lb. of chocolate fudge. What a delicious deal!

For MORE on the fun-filled celebration of Lewisville Roller Mills’ 100th Anniversary — including lots of PHOTOS — please continue to the NEXT SECTION. CLICK for more on the 100th Anniversary of Lewisville Roller Mills

Christmas Memories

Thoughts of Family

The final photos I’ll share from the recent snowfall were taken at the site of the old mill in Lewisville, now primarily occupied by the Enchanted Cottage, a popular rubber stamping, scrapbooking and papercrafts business.

My fascination with the mill goes back to my childhood, when I used to play there with my younger brother, Ed. Our grandfather, Fielden H. Jennings Sr., owned the mill. Several of my uncles and my mother, Grace, the youngest of ten children, helped run the family business for almost 60 years.

In fact, my mother was born in the old “cottage” next to the mill. A year after her birth, the family moved into their new brick home next door. (For more on the history of my family’s association with the mill, please read the article on Lewisville Roller Mills.)
CLICK to read more on Deb’s CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

What’s This?

While walking through Lewisville one morning, I noticed this striking scene. The sunlight’s angle and brilliance had created a fun abstraction. I love the lines, the colors and the contrast. Have you guessed it?

That’s right. It’s the tin roof of the Enchanted Cottage on Shallowford Road that’s the former Jennings home place. It’s located next to the mill building that’s now the primary home of the Enchanted Cottage.

Memories Lead to Discoveries

Because I grew up running around the old flour and feed mill in Lewisville, it seemed natural that I’d be drawn to it as one of my first photo subjects for this blog. The “Enchanted Memories” sign on the side of the building seemed almost prophetic my first morning out.

As I walked around the mill property on several crisp mornings, so many vivid memories of my childhood and adolescence came flooding back. They were good memories, ones that I hadn’t thought about in quite a while. I felt grateful for my family and for the values they taught me by the way they lived their lives.

Those mornings had such an impact on me that I veered significantly “off course” from my original website plans, taking time to put together a photo history of my family and their connection to the mill for many years.

The process was full of discoveries for me. And as a part of Lewisville’s history, I felt it was appropriate to share my family’s story here on the Lewisville Photos website. I hope you’ll enjoy reading it.

Meanwhile, I’ll be looking for more photo art in our everyday world — right here in Lewisville. I can’t wait to share it with you!

LEWISVILLE ROLLER MILLS — HISTORY AND PHOTOS! If you arrived on this page looking for information on Lewisville Roller Mills in Lewisville, North Carolina, please CLICK on over to enjoy the full story and many historical photos on Lewisville Roller Mills.