Prater's Mill Country Fair

One of the Southeast region’s most visited Fall events is the Prater’s Mill Country Fair. It is a family-friendly outing through history. The festival is centered around the old water-powered, still-operating gristmill. This was established in 1855 to grind wheat into flour and corn into meal.The Fair has grown into a celebration of music, great Southern food, history exhibits and handmade crafts and original art created by over 185 talented artists. There are live demonstrations include blacksmithing, quilting, woodcarving, rug hooking and hand tufting, the precursor to the famous tufted carpet industry of Dalton, Ga.Educational exhibits of interest include a living Civil War encampment, antique engines in operation, and handcrafted beadspreads on display.There are self-guided tours of the mill. Visitors may also enjoy shopping in the country store, checking out the Shugart Cotton Gin or acquainting themselves with farm animals at the Westbrook Barn. The whole family can experience canoe rides on Coahulla Creek or take a short hike down the nature trail, and kids love the pony rides.There is an entertainment schedule on two stages. They offers traditional fare such as Appalachian Style clogging exhibitions, country bands, and gospel singers as well as a contingent of wandering musicians and storytellers. [ [http://pratersmill.org/] ] ]

about

Prater’s Mill has served communities for almost 150 years.Prater's Mill has been named an American cultural legacy by the United States Library of Congress. It was built in the mid 1800’s. The water-powered grist mill is now the centerpiece of a country fair that showcases the cultural history of Southern Appalachia. Prater’s Mill Country Fair will be held Columbus Day weekend. The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., developed the Local Legacies Project to document the cultural richness of American communities at the turn of the 21st century. Historical photographs, papers, oral histories and musical recordings will be placed in the nation’s library as well as in the University of Georgia Library in Athens. This Country Fair focuses on mountain music, Southern foods, living history exhibits and the handmade crafts and original art of about 185 talented artists and. Craft demonstrations include blacksmithing, spinning, quilting, rug hooking, woodcarving and hand tufting, a cottage industry that evolved into the tufted carpet industry centered in Dalton, Ga. Visitors take self-guided tours of the operating gristrmill, the country store, Shugart Cotton Gin and the Westbrook Barn complete with fam animals at the fair. Dawnville Community Club serves authentic Southern meals of pinto beans, turnip greens and dried apple stack cake. Throughout the festival are other specialties such as pit-cooked barbecue, apple cider, fried apple pies and churned ice cream. Families enjoy canoeing on the Coahulla Creek, a walk down the nature trail and pony rides for children during the fair. There are educational exhibits that include an authentic Civil War encampment, working antique engines and “Peacock Alley”, a clothesline display of hand-tufted bedspreads. . [ [http://pratersmill.org/] ] ]

history

Prater's Mill's heritage runs back to the days of the Cherokee Indians. It was built by Benjamin Franklin Prater in 1855. The water powered mill was originally fitted with the latest in grain cleaning, grinding and sifting machinery. It was all powered by the Coahulla Creek.As the mill's popularity grew, Prater added a cotton gin, a saw mill, a wool carder, a syrup mill, a general store and blacksmiths shop. For almost a century, farmers lined up their mules and wagons before dawn, waiting for their turn with the millers.The mill was used as a campsite by soldiers from both sides during thr civil war. The mill was considered a valuable resource for food and was not destroyed while occupied by the Union army. The Prater family operated the Mill until the 1950's. A succession of millers ran it until the 1960's. The all-volunteer Prater's Mill Foundation took over the Mill and began its extensive restoration and preservation efforts in 1971. 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, cookouts and family reunions.Fire LossTragedy struck on May 20, 1995 when fire was intentionally set on the north side of the mill. Two arson convictions have been made to date. Most of the damage was sustained on the interior of the mill as the flames shot around the hand-hewn timbers. The force of the fire blew out most of the windows, damaged the roof, siding, electrical system, and destroyed an antique display case. The Prater's Mill Foundation is asking for donors to make tax deductible contributions to cover these costly repairs. [ [http://www.northga.net/whitfield/prater/] ] ]

admission

*The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturday
*9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday.
*Admission is $5.00, children 12 and under are free.
*Visitors are urged to dress casually and wear comfortable shoes. Parking is free. . [ [http://pratersmill.org/] ] ]

directions

Prater’s Mill is located on Ga. Hwy 2, ten miles northeast of Dalton and about 30 miles south of Chattanooga, TN. Interstate travelers should take I-75 to the Tunnel Hill-Varnell Exit #341; drive north 4.5 miles to the intersection with GA. Hwy. 2 at Varnell; turn right and continue 2.6 miles to the mill, a total distance of 7 miles from I-75. Call 706-694-MILL (6455). [ [http://pratersmill.org/] ] ]

References

http://pratersmill.org/http://www.northga.net/whitfield/prater/