Easley, South Carolina – Golden Creek Mill

The Golden Creek Mill, near Easley, is a testament to the ingenuity of the 1800s. Originally built in 1825, the mill made cornmeal, grits, and flour. In 1835, a cotton gin and press were added.

Further along the line, in the early 1900s, an ice machine was added and provided ice cream. Many elders in the area remember this fondly. All this was simply powered by the rushing water of Golden Creek, providing an almost endless supply of free power. Before using gears, this mill made use of hemp ropes, which is rare, as it uses very little metal parts.

Joyce and Leroy Stewart, who now own the mill, have done a great job restoring and rebuilding the old mill. The 14 foot water wheel is still in use today to power the antique milling equipment inside.

The photo above and the description was provided by Waterscapes Photography. Jeff Sanders' website has great nature photography from the Blue Ridge Mountains.