One Of the Oldest Gristmills in Georgia is in North Georgia

Located on West Chickamauga Creek lies a very important part of Georgia’s history!

The mill was built by a man named James Gordon who came from Gwinnett County, Georgia (Atlanta) in 1836.

The mill served the community as one of the first general stores in the area. A blacksmith shop was also located nearby.

The stagecoach and mail passed through twice a week.

During the Civil War or “War Between the States” if you will, Confederate General Braxton Bragg and the Confederate Army of Tennessee used the mill as their headquarters from September 9 through the 10th of 1863.

On September 10, 1863, General Bragg moved his headquarters out of the mill to nearby LaFayette Georgia and after doing so the next day Union troops occupied the mill and surrounding areas.

On September 13 through the 18th of 1863, the Battle of Chickamauga drew troops to the North and the mill was once again used as a headquarters for the Confederate army but not for General Bragg and his army this time but rather General Joseph “Fighting Joe” Wheeler and his cavalry corps.

The mill was later captured back by the Union Army in the winter of 1863. The Union used the second story of the mill as a Masonic Lodge.

Sadly in 1867, the mill that had been around over 30 years and survived America’s deadliest wars burnt.

James Lee, James Gordon’s partner rebuilt the mill on the same site that the first one had burnt and that is the mill that still stands today.

For years the mill stood empty but yet full of history and in 1993 Mr. Frank Pierce purchased the mill and restored it to operating condition and rebuilt the dam.

The mill is open from Tuesday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm. Admission is free and you can purchase fresh ground cornmeal on the mill’s site.

This place is a true Georgia historic site loaded with so much history!