The Historical store and grist mill were built in 1905 by a man named John S. A Blacksmith shop and a two-story store and home combined were also erected on the bend of Ellejoy Creek. The mill burned in 1911 and was rebuilt, Charred embers were still visible in the buildings underpinning. Patty traded the mill for a farm then bought it back-1922 or 1923, He died here in 1926. His son Willis Patty
took it over, then in 1927 sold the Mill to his brother Joe Patty. About 1929 Joe Patty sold the Mill and Store to W.M Davis, who in about 1940 handed over the rein's of both businesses to his daughter Katherine Davis/Ellis and husband Thomas Ellis. Only the remains are left from where the once massive three story mill once stood, the old Grist mill was called "Ellejoy Mill's", The farmers had their wheat and corn ground in this old mill,sadly tore down, it was razed for reasons of safety. The store's earlier years had been a couple of other names, one may have been Boling, but the majority of its life it was "T.H. In 1984 Willma and Barton Haggard purchased the store, they sold off some of the property that had included the stores old barn and original outhouse to Mr. They turned this old store into a few faces including, a Bed and Breakfast, A Cafe called "McTeer Place", A boys dorm for exchange students, If it had another face we have yet to know about it yet but presently it is under the ownership of our family,we are Kirk and Julie Neeley. In 2008 we purchased this diamond in the rough. We are the owner and caretakers of this amazing structure,with great pride and historical respect our goal is to continue to keep learning more about it's history so that it may be carried with it the rest of our lives and on to the next caretakers. To share all we know would be to write a book. We welcome all to come pay us a visit and go through the old store, now museum, a work in progress, but I promise you that when you pay a visit you will feel as our motto say's: "Step in... and you will step back...in time" You will also find this historical structure on the "Appalachian Quilt Trail" Our 4x4 quilt block is located on the upper part of the store front, the pattern is called "Stained Glass". This program is designed to draw special attention to old structures that are worthy of recognition for their past, You will find them on old barns, rural family owned businesses etc. There are two kinds of stops, a "Trail stop" or an "Away stop" Our old store at this time is an "Away stop" presently we have nothing that we sell yet. There are some 600 plus quilts hung throughout the state of Tennessee, It is a wonderful program and we are honored to have T.H. Ellis Grocery Museum on the trail. There is a monument located in our front yard that is a historical marker for "Fort McTeer" Fort, the Daughters of the American revolution placed the marker there in 1936. Fort McTeer was the first fort built in 1784, it was the first of many. Robert McTeer built the fort and he along with many of the McTeers are buried up the road from us at the Historical Eusibia Church, the site once the camping ground for the early settlers along the Great War and Trading Path 1784-85. I highly recommend anyone from around these parts of Walland, Maryville etc.to take the time to find out more about these historical forts and why there was the need for so many and the stories around them. Please come and visit us anytime, We work out of the home for now, but if we are home we allow folks to come through. Thank you for visiting our site which is also a work in progress. Have a wonderful day and God bless. Sincerly,
Kirk and Julie Neeley
