White's Grist Mill, built prior to 1786, was probably the first mill located in Beaver County. (At the time of its erection the site was then in Allegheny County.) The mill was on Raccoon Creek near the mouth of Potato Garden Run. Milling operations continued until 1904. French "burrs" in use in the mill were quarried from the River Seine in France.
HISTORICAL RECORDS show that Thomas White took up a 400-acre tract of land in the area in the 1770's and because by 1786 a number of settlers had arrived in White's vicinity the feasibility of a mill became apparent.
The mill was built by John White and later was owned by Robert Withrow. The hugh log structured mill stood until 1950 when it became the victim of local souvenir hunters. There are still vestiges of the mill to be seen and part of the old dam is visible.
The mill site is interesting since it was at the intersection of the lines of Beaver, Washington and Allegheny counties. Five townships also are cornered there: Hanover and Independence in Beaver County ~ Hanover and Robinson in Washington County and Findley in Allegheny County.
Robert Bonnage, Beaver Falls, is a descendant of John White who built the mill.