Pearces Mill

Timeline

• 1846 - Founding John M.W. Pearce, from a French-descended family that migrated from Virginia, settled in Marion County and established a water-powered mill on Brush Creek.
• 1850s-1860 - Expansion A larger mill was built on the Buttahatchee River. The Pearce family expanded their landholdings and commercial operations.
• 1861-1865 - Civil War James Pizaro 'Jim' Pearce served in the Confederate Army. The war disrupted but did not destroy the mill operations.
• 1865-1870s - Post-War Expansion Jim Pearce returned from the war and rebuilt and expanded Pearces Mill. According to local legend, he painted all buildings red and gray to show continued Confederate loyalty. He increased family landholdings to 68,000 acres.
• 1870s-1890s - Peak Era At its height, Pearces Mill included a flour mill, gristmill, cotton gin, sawmill, planer mill, substantial general store with post office, and blacksmith shop. Mule teams transported products to markets in Tuscumbia. Numerous sharecroppers worked Pearce lands.
• Early 1900s - Decline Begins Improved roads and railroads redirected commerce to larger towns like Hamilton. Residents found it easier to access goods elsewhere.
• 1930 - Store Closes The general store, long the commercial heart of the community, closed its doors.
• 1959 - Mills Close The mills ceased operations entirely, ending over a century of continuous milling at the site.
• 1970 - Mills Demolished The mill buildings were demolished for safety reasons.
• 1976 - National Register Pearces Mill was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its exceptional historical significance.