Light's at Stone Mill & Light Milling Co.

C.B. Kerfott’s book: Highland Mills, notes that the Old Stone Mill had its beginnings in around 1808. It is said that slave labor quarried the stone, cut the lumber and erected the mill, which was then situated on the east bank of Wolf Creek in Abingdon, Virginia. Originally, the building was slated to house a silk mill. Toward these efforts, mulberry trees and silk worms were imported to the area. The silk industry never proved successful however; and the mill was converted into a wool carding mill and

operated successfully for a number of years.

Thank you for your interest in the rich history and story of Light Milling and the Old Stone Mill! We have some great photos of the Old Stone Mill, the Light family, Walter Kestner, the bulk station and much more!

Later, the Mill was run by a man named Stone and remolded into a grist and flour mill. In 1940, the mill was purchased by Roy Light with day to day operation being done by his father-in-law, W.J. Kestner. Mr. Kestner was a former owner and operator of the famous White’s Mill, located on Toole’s Creek in Rich Valley. In 1942, Roy Light took over the operation of the mill and Light Milling Company had its formal beginnings. Even though the Old Stone Mill was destroyed by fire on February 1 in 1964, it still has its roots deep into the soil of the Highland Mills of Virginia.

Since 1940, Light Milling Company has grown from a barter and cash flour and corn mill operation to a major feed supplier and producer! The Company now has three locations in Abingdon: The new retail store and offices known as "Light's at Stone Mill", located in the Stone Mill Village shopping center on West Main Street at Exit 14, "Light Milling Co.", the feed mill and distribution facilities on Hagy Street and our bulk station storage and distribution facility on Green Springs Road.