West Point on the Eno
Encyclopedia
West Point on the Eno is a city park and historical center covering 388 acres (1.6 km²) in Durham, North Carolina
. Several historical structures are conserved on the site, most notably a reproduction colonial-era
mill known as the West Point Mill
.
first used this area to fish, hunt, and grow crops. Arrowheads left behind by the tribe can still be found today.
When white settlers came to the area they noticed the springs that contained freshwater, which motivated them to invest in building mills across the area. The first mill built in the Eno was named Synott's Mill, which started operating in 1752 by Michael Synott, an almost legendary pioneer, who had problems in his personal life and appeared in court often. Shortly after Michael Synott died in 1780 the area was purchased by William Thetford and Charles Abercrombie, who built West Point Mill
. While these mills were being produced a community began to build up and became known as West Point. The community was successful for a period of time but eventually all of its inhabitants died out or moved on. West Point Mill served its owners for 160 years until it was shut down by a paratrooper named Jacob Eller returning from the war in 1942, the last mill on the Eno to do so. http://www.enoriver.org/eno/Shop/Journals/1975/storyofwestpoint.html
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
. Several historical structures are conserved on the site, most notably a reproduction colonial-era
Colonial America
The colonial history of the United States covers the history from the start of European settlement and especially the history of the thirteen colonies of Britain until they declared independence in 1776. In the late 16th century, England, France, Spain and the Netherlands launched major...
mill known as the West Point Mill
West Point Mill
West Point Mill is a reproduction of the historic gristmill on the Eno River in north Durham, North Carolina. The mill and other historic structures are preserved in the West Point on the Eno city park. The mill operates as part of a free tour on weekends, with mill-ground meal and flour available...
.
History
The Eno IndiansEno (people)
The Eno or Enoke, also called Wyanoak, was an American Indian tribe located in North Carolina during the 17th and 18th centuries that was later absorbed into the Catawba and/or the Saponi tribes.-History:...
first used this area to fish, hunt, and grow crops. Arrowheads left behind by the tribe can still be found today.
When white settlers came to the area they noticed the springs that contained freshwater, which motivated them to invest in building mills across the area. The first mill built in the Eno was named Synott's Mill, which started operating in 1752 by Michael Synott, an almost legendary pioneer, who had problems in his personal life and appeared in court often. Shortly after Michael Synott died in 1780 the area was purchased by William Thetford and Charles Abercrombie, who built West Point Mill
West Point Mill
West Point Mill is a reproduction of the historic gristmill on the Eno River in north Durham, North Carolina. The mill and other historic structures are preserved in the West Point on the Eno city park. The mill operates as part of a free tour on weekends, with mill-ground meal and flour available...
. While these mills were being produced a community began to build up and became known as West Point. The community was successful for a period of time but eventually all of its inhabitants died out or moved on. West Point Mill served its owners for 160 years until it was shut down by a paratrooper named Jacob Eller returning from the war in 1942, the last mill on the Eno to do so. http://www.enoriver.org/eno/Shop/Journals/1975/storyofwestpoint.html
External links
- West Point on the Eno - Eno River Association