The story: Roswell King, back in the early 1800's came by, saw the Vickery Creek that joined the Chattahoochee river and thought "gee, what a great place to live and maybe I can even build a mill by this creek". He built a house and brought his family. They were bored, so they invited 6 of their BFFs to build houses too. It was good. They built a church and school. They built a cotton mill. Roswell's kids were sittin' high on the hog. Barrington King built a big-ass town house with beautiful gardens. But life wasn't so good back at the mill. They worked 6 days a week from 'can't see to can't see', meaning it was dark when they left for work and dark when they got home. Kids worked the mill too. Workers put in 11-12 hours a day and this led to Georgia legislation limiting the number of hours worked each to ten hours. Including Saturdays. Workers were paid in credit at the Company Store. One worker complained that one week, his dad came out OWING the company after all the family's charges were totaled. Worker housing included the typical mill houses and a new fangled thing called rowhouses.
Here comes the interesting part: during the Civil War, Sherman's men captured the city and inventoried the mill. Only women and children were working there- about 400 of them. They were making tent fabric used by Confederate soldier. The general's orders were to treat all 400 women and children as traitors. They were charged with treason against the USA. They were ordered to march to nearby Marietta, sleep in the square and board trains for federal prisons up north. Many never returned. One woman and her daughter walked home after the war, only to find her husband re-married- thinking her dead. The city of Roswell has a monument to these 400 women and children.
The mill was destroyed in the war, and then again by fire. You can walk by the river and see the ruins and the old Vickery Dam that was used to power the mill.
You know I gotta stop at the free visitor center. Nice exhibit and nice place to start.
The sites:
The old Company Store was right next door to teh visitor center. it houses a J. Christopher now. But we ate breakfast in Sandy Spring. Food later. Sites now.
The town square was across the street from the visitor center. The fountain had an obelisk and six stones with the names of the six BFF families who decided it would be cool to start a town together.
All around the square were beautiful homes. Most were designated as 'event spaces', so we saw more than a few weddings. The visitor center gave us a walking tour map, so we could tell a little history of each home as we walked past.
This is that first small church that the six BFFs built in the early 1800's. They built a big ole church next door.
And here's that big ole church.
Across a busy street, the old graveyard for that old small church. This marker notes that Roswell's distinguished gentlemen were buried here.
The Smith Plantation. You actually park in the town hall parking lot. Its free to walk around and check out the smaller buildings on the grounds.
The slave cabin on the plantation grounds
The spring house was a cool place with a spring. Its where the family kept dairy products so they wouldn't spoil.
Found another graveyard! This is the founder's graveyard, so Roswell King was buried here.
Slaves were buried here too. They got graves marked with those nameless stones.
On to the Roswell Mill park. There is a nice trail that takes you to the falls, but we didn't know that. Instead, we crossed the bridge and headed into the dirt trails.
Deb standing in the middle of the bridge. It was actually crawling with prom dates when we were there.
Deb slogging up the dirt paths. Gotta see that waterfall. Even with a nasty storm cloud heading our way. We booked it. What a work out. Note to self: next time take the gentle trail on the parking lot side of the park!
We made it! Vickery Dam!
Barrington Hall. This is where Roswell's son lived. There's some connection to Teddy Roosevelt's mom. It actually sits on the main square with the other cool houses. While all the old houses and the mill are clustered here, the eateries and shops are a little north on Canton Street.
View from the gardens at Barrington Hall.
The Food:
Breakfast on the way: Sandy Springs. Flavor- just off Roswell Road. (
http://www.flavorcafebakery.com/) This was a little different. You order at the counter and find a seat. You hunt someone down to refill the coffee. It was pretty though.
The Leo: scrambled eggs with salmon and onions and a very Eastern European style biscuit with an egg glaze. AWESOMEness. For real.
Canton Street in Roswell. Busy, vibrant, colorful, 2 blocks long. We liked the cool restaurant that provided picnic blankets on their rolling grass lawn. What a unique idea. Lots o antique shops. Not so much parking.
First stop: Roswell Provisions. Fresh stuff. Every day.
http://www.roswellprovisions.com/
Fresh meats, fresh coffee, cute stuff
Wha? Gelato too?
We're never leaving!
Outdoor seating too!
Next stop: Roux on Canton.
http://rouxoncanton.com/
They have Dixie beer! But their bar-b-que shrimp were NOT New Orleans style. C'mon guys. Its butter, garlic, lemon and roux and woo!
And outdoor seating!
Next stop: Greenwood's on Green Street.
A little flashback to the late 1960's
http://greenwoodsongreenstreet.com/
Did I mention that they are known for their pies?
Restaurant was a rambling old farmhouse made with old hand hewn planks.
They had a garden on the side of the restaurant.
Nice use of an old truck!
Colorful outdoor porch overlooking the garden. Notice the tree growing up through the porch?
OMG shrimp and grits
But wait. there's more. Chocolate pie. It was HUGE.
You can see the planks used in the farmhouse
We'll be back Greenwood's!
You're on our list now.
The expression 'here's gold in them thar hills' was coined here in Dahlonega.
First stop: Corkscrew Cafe (http://thecorkscrewcafe.com/). Service- eh. New waitress deserved a little slack, but in a wine-crazy town like Dahlonega, you'd think her orientation training would include some wine education. Food actually made up for the strange service. 
Next stop: Crimson Moon (http://www.thecrimsonmoon.com/). Coffee shop, restaurant, live music venue. We just got coffees cuz we had our sights set on German food for dinner in Cumming.
