When most people think of Charles Mill they picture a scenic lake on the east coast of Richland County, but the name originated from a site that was an actual mill once, grinding grain for farmers.
The grist mill, photographed here in 1901, was so busy in the 1800s that it spawned a small settlement around it. Charles Mill was powered by the Black Fork River, and stood just a half mile downstream of where Charles Mill Dam was built in1936.
For more background on Charles Mill check out Water-Powered Mills of Richland County by Robert A. Carter, 2016.
