Run of the Mill

Sam Burnham, Curator
​@C_SamBurnham

The Old Brick Smokestack Still Stands Above the Mill

It’s easy to get caught up in the parts of history that deal with major events and famous people. But just like the present, most of history is made by regular people doing regular things.

That brings us to an old cotton mill in Jefferson. In 1899 people began working here, providing for their daily needs, keeping a roof over their heads, keeping food on their table by laboring in Georgia’s massive cotton industry.

​And now, about 120 years later, people are still using the complex to do just that. In part of the complex you’ll find an antique mall. There are other businesses as well. There also appears to be some more space for future use and development. 

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One particular business operating there is an event space. This is a beautifully restored venue. There are modernized restrooms, plenty of room for a dance floor as well as tables and chairs. There's a bar in one corner. They've added climate control that the workers in the 20th Century would have loved to have. 

In a space where the workers toiled away, wiping sweat from their brow, you can now attend an elegant party or reception. So thorough is the transition you'd assume the structure was built for these sorts of events. It is an excellent reuse of an old structure that could ver easily have been scrapped and replaced with a more moderns edifice. 

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The best part is that the character of the old building makes a strong contribution to the experience. Old timbers, old brick, and stained concrete flooring offer a little something that new lightweight construction just can't match. ​

This is yet another win that we have found. Not only is the building still around, it is fulfilling it's original purpose albeit in a much different manner. It pays to go for the restoration and preservation route. We definitely give this one a thumbs up. 

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