Boteler’s Mill: Labor & Cement in 19th-Century Jefferson County

In 1827, the steady rush of the Potomac River gave life to Boteler’s Mill. This thriving cement works helped build the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal and anchored industry along the eastern stretch of Jefferson County, WV. Powered by innovation and the hands of immigrant laborers, the mill’s story is one of ambition, hardship, and transformation.