Sautee Nacoochee in White County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)
Cooling Vat
Photographed By Tom Bosse
1. Cooling Vat Marker
Inscription.
Cooling Vat. . Slaves quarried and hand-chiseled this two-ton stone trough. Cool water preserved perishable foods, such as butter, cream and milk, in clay pots on the shelves of this 19th century refrigerator. Slave labor contributed to the settlement of this area in many ways. They cleared the land, mined for gold, worked in mills, and were assigned all manner of menial chores, labor-intensive and dangerous jobs. Bricks used in the construction of the White County Courthouse in Cleveland, Georgia were handmade with local clay by black people who were enslaved by the contractor. In 1859, the county courthouse was completed with slave labor. During this time in history, enslaved African Americans were considered property and referred to as human chattel.
Slaves quarried and hand-chiseled this two-ton stone trough. Cool water preserved perishable foods, such as butter, cream and milk, in clay pots on the shelves of this 19th century refrigerator. Slave labor contributed to the settlement of this area in many ways. They cleared the land, mined for gold, worked in mills, and were assigned all manner of menial chores, labor-intensive and dangerous jobs. Bricks used in the construction of the White County Courthouse in Cleveland, Georgia were handmade with local clay by black people who were enslaved by the contractor. In 1859, the county courthouse was completed with slave labor. During this time in history, enslaved African Americans were considered property and referred to as human chattel.
Location. 34° 41.195′ N, 83° 40.566′ W. Marker is in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, in White County. Marker is on Georgia Route 255, on the left when traveling north. Marker located near the Sautee Nacoochee Cultural Center. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sautee Nacoochee GA 30571, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Millstones (here, next to this marker); Slave Dwelling (a few steps from this
The cooling vat and marker can be seen on the right of the slave dwelling near the tree.
Photographed By Leah Tibbs, May 1, 2021
3. Cooling Vat and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on May 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 411 times since then and 19 times this year. Last updated on May 12, 2021, by David Tibbs of Resaca, Georgia. Photos:1. submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. 2, 3. submitted on May 11, 2021, by David Tibbs of Resaca, Georgia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
