Swann's Mill / Alcovy Road Mill
Gwinnett Co. | Georgia | USA
Watersource: Alcovy River
Swann's Mill / Alcovy Road Mill
Go northeast on US 29 from the courthouse in Lawrenceville for 2.1 mles, turn right on Sweet Gum Road and procede for 1.2 miles, then turn left onto Alcovy Road forn 0.9 miles to the river and the mill.
Swann's Mill, aka Alcovy Road Grist mill or Freemans's Mill, is located on Alcovy Rd. near Dacula, Ga. A three story frame mill, the main body of which measures about 35'X 40'. Several additions, a 12-15' 2 story with a 10' one story further addition, extend on the south side of the mill.
Some say that it was constructed between 1868 and 1879 though others say it produced meal during the Civil War. In either case, it was built by the Loveless brothers, then owned by the Freeman family, by Newt Pharr & son in 1915, then purchased by Lewis Swann in 1946.
The 1880 manufactoring census found that the Alcovy Road Mill, running 10 hrs/day/year produced 40 barrel of wheat flour, 14.5 thousand pounds of corn meal and flour,and 54,000 pounds of animal feed annually. The mill was powered by a large overshot wheel that was changed to a breast or pitchback wheel sometime prior to 1986, when the mill closed, by then operator Darrell Tuck. *Update: The mill is water powered and has never been electric powered. The breast wheel was added by my grandfather, Lewis Swann, whuich would have been prior to 1960. Julian Swann 12/01/2010* The SPOOM mill list states that the mill operates every other Monday morning.
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County
The mill has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1996. In Sept. 2001, the Gwinnett County Commisioners purchased the mill and 12 adjoining acres using $350,000 of Georgia Greenspace Program monies from Dr. & Mrs. Julian Swann. Mr. Swann stated that the mill had been in and out of both sides of his families ownership since the Civil War. The county will develop the mill and acreage into a County Park to help preserve a way of life and industry for future generations. Mr Darrell Tuck will be pivetable in the development and restoration of the mill by the county. **Pictures & some of the information provided by Grady Allen, 12/29/05**
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County
Freemans Mill / Swans Mill at Freemans Mill Park - Lawrenceville, GA, Gwinnett County