The community was built by the Fray family, who moved there in 1833.

[1][3] The community first became known as "Advance Mills" in 1888, and the traditional story is that the name was coined by John Fray "who claimed that people frequently commented upon all the advances being made there.

[1] At listing date, the district included a bridge, a dam, a millrace, and four houses.

[3] The site of the mill and the site of a general store remain; the mill itself and the supply store were destroyed by fire in the 1940s.

[3]: 7 Significant contributing properties in the historic district include: