The Federal Distillery Building

The Federal Distillery Building circa 1990, front view

 Built by “Babe” Cooper in 1854, the federal distillery building still stands today on Highway 276 and is part of the offices of Camp Rockbrook. The distillery was regulated by the federal government and originally had an attached mill that served the community by grinding grain for both food and liquor production through the decades.  

A flume diverted water from Dunn’s Creek to power the mill wheel as it ground grain. The front porch was built at wagon height for easy loading and unloading of the final product. Retail sales for the distilled whiskey operated directly at the site in addition to bulk sales that were transported to distributors in the region. Throughout the years, several families rented the space and operated it as a general store as well.  

The Federal Distillery Building circa 1990, rear and side view

Several different operators kept the distillery running until production shut down during prohibition in the early 1920s. It was at this time that Henry and Nancy Carrier inherited the building and used it for antique reproduction furniture manufacture. The mill wheel was relocated and used to provide electricity for Camp Rockbrook.  

One of the main craftsmen there, Walter Cantrell, eventually rented the building and used it for his own woodworking and furniture making business for over forty years before relocating further up the highway and shifting focus to antiques. This remnant of the past has shown that adaptability is the secret to longevity. 

Photographs and information for this column are provided by the Rowell Bosse North Carolina Room, Transylvania County Library. This article was written by Local History Librarian Laura Gardner. For more information, comments, or suggestions, contact NC Room staff at ncroom@transylvaniacounty.org or 828-884-1820.