Prater's Mill, Whitfield County, Georgia

This beautiful old water-powered mill on the Coahulla Creek in the mountains of North Georgia was built by Benjamin Franklin Prater in 1855. For its time Prater Mill was a state-of-the-art facility with the latest in grain cleaning, grinding and sifting machinery.
Next to the mill the enterprising Mr. Prater built a cotton gin, a saw mill, a wool carder, a syrup mill, a general store and blacksmith shop. The place was a hub of activity for more than a century. Farmers came from miles around with their mule drawn wagons and lined up before dawn for their turn with the millers.

During the War Between the States, the mill was used as a campsite at different times by both Confederate and Union soldiers. Fortunately the mill survived the war. On some Civil War maps, Prater's Mill is listed as Barrett's or Russell's Mill. Barrett was a former owner of the property while Russell was probably a Prater relative hired as the miller.

The Prater family operated the Mill until the 1950's, and other millers ran it until the early 1960's. In 1971 the all-volunteer Prater's Mill Foundation took over the Mill and began its extensive restoration and preservation efforts. Today, the mill is best known for the arts and crafts festivals held twice each year. Throughout the year, the grounds are a popular site for fishing, and picnics.

Prater's Mill is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.