The Old Mill - Rome, GA
N 34° 19.492 W 085° 14.969
16S E 661047 N 3799565
The Old Mill historical marker is located at historic Berry College in Rome, Georgia.
Waymark Code: WMQ3PG
Location: Georgia, United States
Date Posted: 12/13/2015
Views: 2
The marker is located above the entrance to the mill and reads:
The Old Mill
Dedicated to the Memory of
M. Gordon Keown
M. Gordon Keown, a 1905 graduate of the
Berry Schools, spent his lifetime serving
the schools and Martha Berry as Business
Advisor and Resident Trustee, then
succeeded Miss Berry as Director. He had
the major role in expanding Berry's land-
holdings from 83 to over 30,000 acres with
the help and enthusiasm of Henry Ford.
Mr. Keown, with Mr. Ford's encouragement
procured the parts for the mill.
Berry students erected the structure
and maintain it as a permanent landmark
to Henry Ford and M. Gordon Keown's great
interest in this original and unique
use of water power.
The following information is from the Berry College website:
"Constructed in 1930, the Old Mill boasts an iron hub which had originally been of service at Hermitage, an early manufacturing community near the Shannon village between Rome and Calhoun, Georgia, and was a gift to Berry from The Republic Mining (bauxite) and Manufacturing Company. Henry Ford had the hub moved to Berry where the wheel was rebuilt.
The wooden overshot waterwheel, considered one of the largest in the world at 42 feet in diameter, was constructed by student workers. For many years, the mill was operated by Mr. Green Berry Goodson, a white-bearded miller who ground Berry-grown corn into meal and grits. Water is piped directly from Berry's reservoir lake to the wheel. Once primed, the force of gravity is strong enough to push the water up the stone column, and over the wheel, causing it to turn.
During 1977 the wheel was completely rebuilt as a cooperative project involving Berry students, staff, alumni, and friends, and was dedicated to the memory of Mr. Gordon Keown on June 3, 1978. Mr. Keown was an alumnus of Berry, a long-time staff member and acting director of the Berry Schools from 1942-1944.
During 1985, physical plant staff and student volunteers restored the mechanism and made grinding of corn meal once again possible. The Old Mill is operated on special occasions such as Mountain Day. When available, the Oak Hill Gift Shop sells cornmeal ground at the Old Mill. See our Calendar of Events page for potential grinding dates."