Seagraves recalls area's storied past and multiple owners

Prior to the year 1800, a settler by the name of Vandifer came to Georgia, settling at what was then known as Little Sandy Creek. The site at which he built was near an old Indian free-flowing rock basin springs, which once had served as assembly grounds for Indian tribes. Vandifer built a log cabin near this spring and later realized the need for a mill in the vicinity to grind grain for the settlers.

He built a dam over the creek and a small log millhouse, installing a paddle-type water wheel. The early settlers came to the mill with their corn to be ground.

In 1840, Vandifer sold his farm and mill to Richard Strickland, who operated it for a short time and sold it to his son Washington Strickland. Since the mill was built, the surrounding community had increased in population. Strickland realized the need to increase its capacity and also grind wheat for flour. In 1860, he began construction of a new millhouse. At this time, a stone flour mill was installed, the stone being a French Burr stone, which had been imported from France. Three grades of flour were made: heads, middlings and shorts.

The second millhouse was constructed of forest heart timber, the sill being 12 inches by 12 inches and 40 feet long and being of one solid log. The forest timber used in the building was cut on the farm.

In 1882, R.L. Pittman purchased the mill property from the estate of Washington Strickland. Pittman was a great sportsman, owning many bloodhounds, bird dogs and race horses. He also employed labor under the lease system of convicts. He was a crack shot with a gun and usually carried two .45-caliber Colt revolvers in a holster on his belt. During Pittman's ownership of the mill, he built a 24-foot water wheel, furnishing power for many years to come. In 1885, he built a dirt dam across the creek, making a reservoir of approximately 10 acres of water, which was used as a surplus of water for grinding. Also, the millhouse was selected as a post office and given the name Monitor, Ga. Farmers from two or three miles around came to the mill to get their mail.

Pittman operated the mill until 1906, at which time the mill property w