Sautee Nacoochee in White County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Cooling Vat

Photographed by Tom Bosse

1. Cooling Vat Marker

Inscription. 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.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Architecture • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1859.

Location. 34° 41.195′ N, 83° 40.566′ W. Marker is in Sautee Nacoochee, Georgia, in White County. It 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.

Regionally, this marker is in Georgia’s Mountains. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Millstones (here, next to this marker); Slave Dwelling

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(a few steps from this marker); Blacksmith Shop (a few steps from this marker); Slave Garden (a few steps from this marker); Emancipation Wall (a few steps from this marker); African American Heritage Site (a few steps from this marker); Joe Brown Pikes (approx. 0.7 miles away); Bishop Marvin A. Franklin (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sautee Nacoochee.

Also see . . . Sautee Nacoochee Center. Website homepage (Submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)

Distant Cooling Vat and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leah Tibbs, May 1, 2021

2. Distant Cooling Vat and Marker

The cooling vat and marker can be seen on the right of the slave dwelling near the tree.

Cooling Vat and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Leah Tibbs, May 1, 2021

3. Cooling Vat and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2018, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 581 times since then and 21 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.