The best known
mill in Maury County, TN was Fountain Creek Mills, also called
Love's Mill. It
holds a special place in the hearts of those who swam in the
waters upstream of the dam. It’s seared in the memories of
those who looked at it each time they crossed the old bridge, as
the boards clicked and clacked.
The original mill
was built by the Revolutionary War veteran David Love in
1807-1809. He came from
Virginia in 1804 becoming one of Maury County’s first
settlers. In 1827 he
was buried about 300 yards from his mill in the Griffin – Love
Cemetery. The original mill stones served as door steps at the home
his son John D. Love. They were later placed at the grave of David
Love. After Loves death the mill was purchased by William Johnston
and Patrick H. Braden. The mill that Love built ended up being
washed away by a flood. It was rebuilt and later burned in 1925.
The mill in the
photo above is the one that most are familiar with. It was built in
1926 and named Fountian Creek Mills. It burned on April 3, 1976 at
8:00 PM.
An account of Mr.
Love has it that he was riding his horse in Columbia one
day. He had consumed a
beverage to calm his nerves and ended up riding his horse right
through the courthouse.
As this would not be allowed, he was taken before the judge and the
judge told Mr. Love he would have to pay a fine of five
dollars. Mr. Love
reached in his pocket and handed him ten and said, “This five is
for when I came in.
This other five is for the ride I’m going to take back through on
my way home.”
Don’t look for Mr.
Love in the cemetery across the road. He doesn’t know it yet, but he’s
not there anymore. The
area was expected to be flooded as a result of the TVA Columbia Dam
Project and he was relocated. We wonder if he will be
disappointed to find himself so far from home. Go to the end of the road to see
the foundation of this once bustling mill.
The cache only contains a log.
BYOP. This is a drive by but watch out for the sticker bushes.