OCCOQUAN, Va. — On your next trip to Occoquan, you may see historic buildings and pretty scenes, but one thing you’re not going to see is the old Merchant’s Mill, which was once located in historic Occoquan. The mill burned down in 1924, but one resident of Occoquan, Dr. James Walbert, has found a way to revive the memory of Merchant’s Mill – he’s constructed a scale model of the mill for residents and tourists.
On Saturday, Occoquan Mayor Earnie Porta and town residents gathered at Town Hall to hear Walbert speak on the history of Merchant’s Mill, and the arduous process he underwent to construct a scale model of the mill. Walbert shared the step by step process he used to construct the model, showing photos and dimensional drawings to further demonstrate the process.
The model, which can be seen at the Mill Museum on Mill Street, was the culmination of almost a year’s worth of work, and is an excellent replica of the mill, based on gathered photos and information found in records.
The model stands a quarter inch to one foot in scale of the original mill, was constructed using construction foam, wood, and other traditional materials, and is full of precise and immaculate details. While some parts of the mill were unable to be researched, requiring Walbert to use some skillful guesswork, with the help of the Historical Society, and Mayor Porta’s book in the Arcadia series on the town of Occoquan, Walbert was able to make a model that is the exact image of Merchant’s Mill.
Residents and patrons are able to see the model of Merchant’s Mill at the Mill Museum in Occoquan, daily from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The Mill Museum is operated by the Occoquan Historical Society.
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