Prater's Mill
Varnell
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Photo courtesy of GA Dept of Economic Development
Prater's Mill was originally built in 1855 by John Pitner and Ben Prater (Pitner's son in law) on land owned by Joel Barrett using John Pitner's slaves under the direction of John Russell. John Pitner put the money up for the building of the mill ($2,819.38) and Ben Prater and John Russell would be assured of a job there and Joel Barrett would pay off the mortgage. The mill was built of virgin pine timbers and with mortised and peg joints.
A few months after the mill was completed, John Pitner died. He left a will which left provisions for his widow, and the remainder to Ben Prater (his son in law) and his son T H Pitner equally. Not long after T H Pitner married John Russell's daughter in Blount County TN. Barrett, Prater and Russell ran the mill for a few years, and eventually Prater and Pitner bought out Barrett. October 1861 Prater bought out T H Pitner's share, become the sole owner of the mill.
Meal and later flour were produced there as well as a saw mill, cotton gin, a wool carder, a syrup mill, a general store and a blacksmiths shop.
Prater's Mill is located on Coahulla Creek about 10 miles north of Dalton, early 1970s.
Photo courtesy of Vanishing Georgia, Georgia Virtual Vault.
During the Civil War, the area was used by solders from the CSA and Federals for a camp. Because the mill was a food source, it was not destroyed during the Civil War.
In 1970s the Mill was restored by an all volunteer Prater's Mill Foundation. Today, the mill has an arts and crafts festival twice every year.
http://daltondailycitizen.com/local/x1850236378/Civil-War-anniversary-Praters-Mill
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This page was last updated on -03/17/2024
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