Note: The old Pharr Mill has been taken down and mostly removed after this cache was hidden. Several original artifacts remain on the site, but the wood building is almost completely gone.
These days Harrisburg NC is a Top 50 Place to Live.
http://time.com/money/collection-post/3984481/harrisburg-north-carolina-best-places-to-live-2015/
Not a lot of detailed history of Harrisburg, NC or Pharr Mill is available online. https://www.harrisburgnc.org/about-harrisburg/history
But, it is known that long before the town arranged to get electricity grid service in 1928, there was a state law granting 50 acres of land and exemption from taxes and service in the state militia to gristmill and sawmill operators. It is believed that the first Pharr Mill was built about 1850 on this site by Hugh Smith Pharr. The original mill washed away in a flood in about 1910, and was replaced in the current location by Paul Stallings in about 1912.The Stallings family donated the structure and 8 acres of land to the town in 1998. It has deteriorated significantly since then.
http://tedmccachren.com/historic/electricity.html
https://www.ncpedia.org/gristmills
http://tedmccachren.com/restoration/pm-history.html
http://tedmccachren.com/restoration/pharrmill.html
Gristmills in general have a much longer history.
https://www.ncpedia.org/gristmills
In contrast, other nearby companies such as Mineral Research and Development Corp. aka Chemical Specialties LLC, just north (less than 0.2 miles) of the old gristmill, have more recent and detailed history, in more modern business, with many details available from EPA and Scorecard.
https://oaspub.epa.gov/enviro/multisys2_v2.get_list?facility_uin=110057679739
http://scorecard.goodguide.com/env-releases/facility.tcl?tri_id=28075MNRLRHWY49
On this old gristmill site, you can see the old mill building, as well as what is left of the dam and water works. Much of the equipment has been removed, but there is still some remaining, including stone grinding wheels, which are visible through the fence. Please do not trespass inside the fence, for your own safety.
I thought I'd make this a letterbox hide for a few reasons. First, letterboxing has a history starting nearly the same time as the first mill was built here, in the 1850s. Also, I appreciate the artistic aspect of letterbox stamps, even if I've never really had one. The fact that letterboxes could be found without GPS is an interesting twist too, these days.
https://www.atlasquest.com/about/history/index.php
To find this cache... parking is available at the pullout at the corner of Pharr Mill Road and Shamrock Road, near the posted coordinates. You should see the old mill building as you approach. DO NOT go inside the fence for this cache.
There are a few ways to find this cache, from more to less similar to old fashioned letterboxes, or using from older to newer technologies. Please let me know in your log which method you used.
The following are most primitive directions:
From the posted coordinates, circle around to the northwest, approximately 30-50 yards, until you find the relatively unique location as described in the hint.
The following are medium old fashioned directions.
From your parking, go a few steps towards the mill, to the information sign. You should see 2 phone numbers. The coordinates for the final location are as follows:
N 35 19.abc W 080 37.def
where, using digits #7 through 9 of the first number,
a=#7+7
b=#8+3
c=#9+1
using digits #7 through 9 of the second number,
d=#7-6
e=#8-1
f=#9+0
Note: As of June 25, 2021, the following method is temporarily not available... Lastly, another, most modern way: Near the back corner of the fence you may find an item you can scan with an NFC reader to get final coordinates. If you don't have a device with NFC scanner, you should buy a different phone, or bring a friend who has one. :) This is a modern contrast to the old letterbox methods.
You will need to cross the small creek (but not Rocky River!) to get to the final location. It's less of a climb, but more of a bushwack if you approach from farther away from Rocky River, following the "clearing" for the drainage pipe. It's a bit steep in most places closer to Rocky River, and may be slippery when wet. Another route we used is to go along the land along/above Rocky River, and climb up over the stone work. This may also be slippery when wet, so watch your step.
You're looking for a large ammo can. If you have a letterbox stamp, use it to stamp the log. Otherwise, feel free to sketch something, or simply sign. The provided stamp isn't fancy, but it's there for your stamp log if you have one.
I hope you enjoy the history and short walk in the woods.