The earliest trade center and industrial development in interior Georgia was established here before the Revolutionary War by Francis Paris, Senior.
A rick dam was constructed across the creek, of which it is said that the 400 horse power developed for the feed and saw mills was by far the greatest in the colony. The rock foundations of the old dam are still embedded in the creek about 300 yards above the present bridge.
Paris sold the land, mills, and appurtenances to Seaborn Jones, of Augusta, on February 8th, 1796.
GHM 124-3 Georgia Historical Commission 1953
Plaque courtesy Lat34North.com.
Original page, with additional info, here.
Photo credit: Ken Moser.