Akers Mills - January 2013 (also known as Banner Mills)

All Text & Images: Copyright (2013)

The Akers brothers may have had a grist mill on Rottenwood Creek before the Civil War;   if not, their mill was in operation
soon after.   (Note: The Official Military Atlas of the Civil War, Pl. 60, shows two mills on this creek, both labeled Winship's
Mill.)   In the late 1870s, they built a second mill for flour production, located just downstream from the grist mill, which only
produced corn meal.   They renamed the complex Banner Mills.   Both mills were wood-framed buildings set on rock piers,
built into the bank overlooking the creek.   The Mills employed about 60 people and constructed housing in a small village
south of the site.   The mill closed in 1889; remains are protected within the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.

Approaching the Mill ruins along the bank of Rottenwood Creek

The ruins had recently (early 2013) been cleared of under-growth...

View downstream From the ribbons, it appears that the site was surveyed when it was cleared.

Wall details...

Mossy stones in wall corner

The mill employed an uncommon stone mill race.

Stone mill race - facing the old dam water inlet. Inside view (above) and upper view (below).

Mill race - facing the mill ruins. Inside view (above) and upper view (below).

Remains of the mill dam, across the creek.

Another view of the stone mill race outlet...

Upstream from the mill ruins... Mill race on left bank, broken dam remains on right side of creek...

Ruins from the creek;   remaining flume pier on right side.

Rottenwood Creek, between stone columns...

The grounds were covered with budding Trout Lily plants.

But I only saw one Lily that had opened...

View down on Rottenwood Creek, from cliff top beyond Mill ruins.

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All Text & Images: Copyright 2013.