Old Roswell Mills Ruins, Dam and Falls - January 2013

All Text & Images: Copyright (2013)

The first of a group of mills here was built in 1836, and was the largest cotton mill in N. Georgia at its height.
The mill was destroyed by Sherman's troops in 1864, and 400 mill workers, mostly women, were sent North.
After Reconstruction, the mills diversified, passing through several phases of ownership well into the 20th
century, eventually shutting down operations in 1975.

The first destination was the old Mill dam, reached by a trail along the north bank of Vickery Creek.

Millpond Dam

Dam Spillway   -   Originally this outlet connected to the flume that powered the Mill.

Water leaking from base of dam.

Several days of rain the previous week made for a good water flow; a mist was rising from the base of the falls.

A different view of the spillway...

Panoramic view, showing the juxtaposition of the spillway and dam.

Heading downstream, the view back up Vickery Creek to the dam.

Continuing downstream, the next stop was a set of ruins and old mill machinery which I had bypassed on the way to the millpond dam.

Mill turbine gears

This was the water intake from the flume

All that remains of the flume pipe, now split and filled with vegetation.

Mill ruins

Rusty metal water wheel

More ruins

A covered foot-bridge crosses to the south-east side of Vickery Creek.

Heading over to the other side...

The only structure still standing from the Mill complex (a machinery shop) is visible behind the bridge.

Took the trail along the ridge south of the creek, back to the Mill dam falls...

Looking down from the edge of the dam

In the shade at the dam base, a bit of ice remained from the cold overnight.

Millpond, above the dam

Mill Dam from rocky ledge on the south end

More leaks in the dam...

Heading back, view down the trail to the bridge

Bridge and shoals

A few remaining flume support piers and machinery downstream from the bridge

Remains of another wall...

A few historical drawings and photos of the Roswell Mills:

Charles Holyland's sketch of the destroyed Mills - July 1864 from Roswell Historical Society

Historic drawing of the Mills rebuilt after the Civil War. Comparing the buildings in this image and the next, the above appears to be somewhat earlier...

Mills as rebuilt after the Civil War. from Roswell Historical Society

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All Text & Images: Copyright 2013.