Potato Creek Mill and Dam in Thomaston, Georgia

The mill and Potato Creek Dam in the 1960s

Although the grist mill hasn't stood for 30 years or more, the site of the old mill and dam at Potato Creek in Thomaston, Georgia has fascinated me ever since I was a young child. I recall stories of the old mill told by mother, grandmother, and Aunt Anne as far back as I can remember. What fun they must have all had at Potato Creek Beach, as they called it.

I'm not entirely sure when the old mill was built, but I'm going to assume the late 1800s. I've heard it referred to as the old Reeves Mill as well as the Potato Creek Mill, but I'm not sure which is correct. My great grandparents, Thomas Alton Franklin and Ida Boggs Franklin, as well as their six children, lived in the mill from 1934 to 1937. Those six children were Wilmoth (my grandmother), Anne (my great aunt), Percy, Joe, Fred, and Andy. Thankfully Aunt Anne is still alive and she was able to tell me her first-hand account of what life at the mill was like. She informed me that they lived at the old mill itself until there was a big fire in 1936. The Franklin family had to live in the storage building, which was attached to the mill, for 3 months until the damage was repaired.

The site of the mill and what's left of Potato Creek Dam in May 2016

The mill in 1945.

A drawing by Sandra Herring depicting what the mill looked like historically (2000).

The site of the old mill can be found close to the intersection of Old County Road and W Moore's Crossing Road. Technically, in the heyday of the mill, that area was considered part of Upson County and not the Thomaston proper. Aunt Anne stated that a walk from the mill to her school, Robert E. Lee Institute was a 3.1 mile trek both ways. She and everyone else had to walk that each day come rain or shine.

Map of old mill site.

New Acquisition - American Sheridan Chest of Drawers circa 1820

Isn't it just gorgeous? I found it in this wonderful store called Sweet Home Antiques in Pine Mountain, Georgia. The woodwork is just amazing, and it's even more beautiful in person.  The chest is much larger and taller than it appears, so I'm very glad I didn't end up with a larger piece.

If anyone has any idea of what the wood is, please let me know. I'm thinking it's Mahogany but I'm not an expert in identifying wood.

Indiana Blue Carnival Glass & Barbour Silver Vase

So I found some excellent Indiana Harvest carnival glass in blue today. I have the drinking glasses that go with them (not the goblets), but they are on a moving truck at the moment.

I found out the pitcher was made by Barbour in the mid to late 1800s. There's a giant T (on the side not pictured), and I'm assuming it was part of the Tarversville silver that belong to the Tarver side of my family. Which is super neat, because I have a blog post on their houses right here! http://www.andyzimm.com/2011/05/my-familys-plantation-homes_4121.html
I'm going to get a dremel attachment to finish polishing the vase and to clean the nooks and crannies.

I'm going to get a new curio, display case, or china cabinet that work to display all this stuff. I'm going to need something that blends modern with antique, and is upper echelon enough to host the Tiffany, Loetz, and Steuben I plan to acquire in the future.

My Grandfather's Seth Thomas Mantel Clock - Circa 1879

My great grandfather’s Seth Thomas mantel clock. I’ve dated it to about 1879 or thereabouts. Still haven’t figured out the exact model.

We had it fixed about 10 years ago and it worked then, but I don’t think it works now. I would like to have it fixed again, but I don’t think I want it restored, as it has that nice old world charm about it.

PS: Notice my art deco 1930’s Seth Thomas clock on the mantel.