Crabtree Creek Mill, Wake County, NC, Early 20th Century

This vintage photograph captures a scene along Crabtree Creek in Wake County, North Carolina. The image showcases a historic mill, notable for its stonework and functioning waterwheel, which exemplifies early American industrial architecture. The photograph is part of the larger Carnegie Survey of the Architecture of the South, an initiative that documented significant architectural sites across the southern United States.

Frances Benjamin Johnston, an influential photographer, created this image, contributing to the preservation of Southern heritage through her detailed documentation of architecture and landscape. This particular image serves as a visual record of the regions industrial past and its reliance on natural resources for power and production.

Taken in the early to mid-20th century, this photograph reflects the historical significance of mills in North Carolinas economic development. It is a valuable representation of the integration of natural features and man-made structures, offering insight into the technological advancements of the time.