The Backbone of a System: From Fredericksburg Old Mills to Spinal Vertebrae

In the late 1800’s, a booming milling industry in Fredericksburg, Virginia was powered largely through the rushing waters of the Rappahannock River. The success of this industry made and sheer number of mills popping up along the banks made one thing clear: the Rappahannock River was the backbone of Fredericksburg’s economy.

That is an interesting metaphor isn’t it?

We often refer to the most crucial elements in a system as the “backbone,” yet we often forget just how crucial and fragile the actual backbone – the spine -- in our own bodies are.

However, just as the Fredericksburg milling industry would likely have never flourished without the water power flowing through the river, so too would it be extremely painful, difficult, or even impossible to move, bend, twist, and even sleep without a healthy spine.

The Rappahannock River: Powering Fredericksburg Through the Early National Period

Water Wheel Mills in Fredericksburg

Fredericksburg’s location along the Rappahannock River proved crucial to its economic success throughout the Early National Period (1789 – 1830) and beyond.

First, the river aided in diversification of industries in the area as Fredericksburg became a major hub for commerce and trade via routes along this river. With the flow of materials coming into Fredericksburg along the river, this led to the establishment of grist and flour mills along the Rappahannock.

The river proved to be instrumental in this industrial shift. Not only did it provide a vital transportation link, but it also provided a nearly endless source of water power to the mills popping up along it’s banks.

This mill system is categorized into three major regions among the canal:

  • The Raceway, or canal ditch, outlined the western side of Fredericksburg (along what is today Kenmore Avenue) and branched off from the main canal. This raceway powered only the upper-level mills and was eventually filled in during the mid-20th century due to lack of use.

  • Upper Level Mills were located along the western side of Caroline street. These mills functioned through waterpower from the Fredericksburg Water Power Company Canal in which the dam released water into the canal.

  • Lower Level Mill were found along the eastern side of Caroline Street, through present-day Old Mill Park. These mills could function from waterpower flowing from two sources: either a lower dam below Lauck’s Island could let water in or flowing water could be re-used after powering the upper level mills.

Each component of this canal system on the Rappahannock River played an important role in the milling industry – from commercial transportation to water wheels powering the mills. As individual components of a larger system, the canals were so interconnected along the entirety of the Rappahannock River that issues in one region could impact the functioning of another.

One example of this occurred around 1783, when James Hunter extended his dam across the width of the river in Falmouth, VA. Sometime earlier, Francis Thornton III, the operator of Thornton’s Grist Mill (located just upstream of the present-day Falmouth Bridge), had already extended his mill’s dam across to the opposite bank of the river. Hunter’s subsequent dam extension caused the waterpower flowing to Thornton’s Mill to be cut off.

Appearing before Stafford Court, the court ruled in favor of Thornton. However, this was an important lesson in the interconnectedness of the great resource of the Rappahannock River and how it was indeed the backbone to the success of dozens of mills along its banks.

The Spine: The Backbone to Our Lives

Just as the Rappahannock River served as the “backbone” of the milling industry, so too does our spine serve as the literal backbone to our bodies. Spinal compressions or other conditions can, at best, cause a minor annoyance and, at worst, prevent us from performing everyday tasks.

The spinal vertebrae are categorized into three segments:

  • The cervical spine includes seven small vertebrae at the top of the spine, from the base of the skull to the upper back.

  • The thoracic spine includes the next 12 vertebrae which connect to the rib cage, from the upper back to the middle back.

  • The lumbar vertebrae are the next five large vertebrae which are responsible for supporting most of your body’s weight.

Importance of spinal vertebrae in our Body

Running throughout the spine, the system of nerves in the spinal cord transmits messages between the brain and the rest of the lower body. Additionally, each vertebra in the spine is supported by intervertebral disks which essentially act as shock absorbers for the spine and help keep the spine in shape when stress is put on the spine.

Just like the canal system along the Rappahannock River, all the components of the spine’s anatomy are so interconnected that damage to one component can cause serious harm to others. Just as James Hunter’s dam caused Francis Thornton’s mill to lose waterpower downstream, so too can a spinal compression or other condition on any part of the spine cause referred to damage to another region of the spine.

In order to maintain the healthy and safe functioning of the fragile spinal system, proactive maintenance of spinal health is essential. Individual actions such as regular exercise, proper seating, and the right mattress are small steps that can be taken to protect this backbone. However, just as the Stafford Court had to step in when one section of the canal was impacting another, professionals such as https://handsofhopechiropractic.com/blog/introduction-to-chiropracticchiropractors can also step to help ensure that the spinal vertebrae continue to operate properly as a team.

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Dr. J.P. Yurgel, D.C. of Hands of Hope Chiropractic & Wellness Center located in Fredericksburg, VA invites you to get started on your spinal health journey. Schedule an appointment today!