Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022 - 64

RIGHT: Francis Mill, North
Carolina, was built by Willam
Francis, great-great grandfather
of the current owner.
BELOW: Hagood Mill, South
Carolina, is a year-round
destination not just as a working
mill, but also for classes, music
and more.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM CLEVENGER
PHOTO COURTESY OF MACON GREEN PHOTO
PHOTO COURTESY OF KIM CLEVENGER
MILL SUPERLATIVES OF
THE WORLD
f Largest metal water wheel
in the country at 50 feet in
diameter: Fairwater Fitz Water
Wheel, Wisconsin
f Largest metal water wheel in
the world at 72.5 feet in diameter
and six feet wide: Lady
Isabella, Isle of Man
f Largest wooden water wheel
in the country at 44 feet in diameter:
Berry College, Georgia
f Largest wooden water wheel
in the world at 90 feet in
diameter (and 900 years
old):Noria Water Wheels, Syria
-AM
Clustered in the valleys and mountains,
these active communities were
" towns " before they ever officially declared
a name for themselves. Visitors
might have breathed in the musky forest
aroma of wood being sawn. Touched
the soft lanolin brushings of carded wool.
Watched bark powder being made for tanning
hides. Traded for necessary hunting
supplies. Witnessed weavers at the looms.
Heard the pinging of a blacksmith's hammer.
Possibly whiffed the sweet smell of
mash cooking. And, anticipated tasting
fresh cornbread and biscuits hot from the
wood stove!
They also took this opportunity to see
and catch up on all the news from " neighbors "
who lived half-a-day's ride away. It
became as much a social event to visit the
mill as it was a commercial endeavor in
the early history of our area.
Today, hundreds of these grist mills
across the U.S. have been abandoned and
succumbed to time. Fortunately, individuals
and organizations such as the Society
for the Preservation of Old Mills are on
a mission to restore these examples of
shared human history.
We are fortunate in the Blue Ridge to
have a number of water-powered grist
mills grinding fresh grains today and preserving
the memories of yesterday.
Let's visit a few and enjoy the sensory
experiences of a bygone time.
64 BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Georgia: Prater's Mill
Fifty years ago, a labor of love saved this
1855 grist mill. Families originally traveled
for miles on mules and wagons to
the cotton gin, sawmill, syrup mill, wool
carder, blacksmith shop and general store.
Today, visitors can see the original French
Buhr millstones in action; attend an artisan
fair to hear live music and eat some
good ol' Southern cooking; picnic; walk
trails; and take the kids to the petting zoo.
pratersmill.org
Nora Mill Granary
The 1,500-pound millstones in this 1876
structure are powered by the Chattahoochee
River via a wooden raceway that
feeds a water turbine. Grinding only fresh
grains to make corn and wheat products
and developing famous recipes (ask about
Pioneer's Porridge!) bring visitors to the
mill, gift shop and old-fashioned country
store. Oh, and the aroma of freshly baked
goods greets you at the door. noramill.com
South Carolina: Hagood Mill Historic
Site & Folklife Center
The 1845 clapboard-sided, hand-hewn
log mill with its overshot wooden water
wheel is the anchor for this heritage destination.
Historic cabins, cotton gin, blacksmith
shop and the only protected Native
American petroglyph site in the state are
also here. Visitors come year-round for
http://www.pratersmill.org http://www.noramill.com http://www.BLUERIDGECOUNTRY.COM
Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Blue Ridge Country May/June 2022
