In the rolling hills of eastern Catawba County, Murray’s Mill is located where it was nearly a century ago: on the banks of Balls Creek, about 18 miles from the town of Hickory.
John Murray built the gristmill in 1913. His father, William, had operated a mill on the site since 1883. In 1906, William deeded the property to his sons, John and Oley. In 1907, John Murray acquired a 5/6 interest from his brother Oley, who would take over the operation of the family general store. In 1913, John replaced his father’s mill with the current two-story structure, adding a 22’ overshot waterwheel to replace the former turbine. In 1938, John’s son, Lloyd, raised the dam six feet and installed the 28’ waterwheel (it’s said that William’s original wooden dam stands beneath the surface of the present pond).
Three generations of the Murray Family operated the mill before bureaucratic red tape and increasing taxes forced Lloyd Murray, John’s son, to close its doors in 1967. The mill was the last one in the Catawba County, so the Catawba County Historical Association (CCHA) worked to restore it. Preservation efforts started in 1980. Eight years and $2 million later, the mill reopening as a historic site.
North Carolina Governor James G. Martin came to the opening ceremony on April 30, 1988.
Murray’s Mill is on the National Register Historic Site and open to the public. Visitors will find William’s original, one-ton French burr millstones, for grinding corn, as well as Eureka roller mills that John installed for grinding wheat into flour. All of the mill’s storage bins, each partitioned by tongue-and-groove sheathing, have been preserved, too. Murray’s Mill is a short drive from Interstate 40.
(Note: This article was updated by Jennifer Marquart in May 2026.)