Ely's Mill

Ely's Mill. . The Mill was build in the 1920s by Andrew Jefferson Ely. A.J. Ely known as "Old Man Ely" was a Yale law school graduate, a practicing Tennessee lawyer and a printer. Disenchanted with city life after the death of his wife, he bought this 30 acre tract in an effort to live a Healthy life. He was known for being strongly opinionated. He preached against smoking and strong drink, coffee, tea alcohol, along with the evils of various foods: milk, salt, whitbread, and "store-bought" food. He advocated eating Fresh vegetables, Honey, Bananas, Buttermilk, and lots of Spring water. For years, the old Lines bakery made a special bread from his flour. There was no subject he felt Lukewarm about, be it Politics, Taxes, Marriage, Youth, Religion, or the Like. Its been told that if he liked you, he'd talk with you for hours, but if he didn't approve of you, he'd take the whole afternoon off just to tell you so. , He hired local craftsmen to build the Mill and showroom to display their wares. Initially called Water Wheel Craft Shop, the Mill featured weaving and Local crafts and later to making solid wood furniture and selling Antiques. The water powered the machinery in the furniture shop - belt sanders, lathes, planners - by a system of pulleys and belts. The wheel itself is almost 30 foot in diameter and 8 foot wide. It was supplied with water from a race which came overtop of the buildings and began nearly a quarter mile upstream. , As the place grew more buildings were added; barns for Livestock, sheds and Chicken houses. A Caretaker family lived here also to help tend Garden, keep Bees and manage the Animals and grounds. A Hammermill was built to crush and mix feeds. A Blacksmith shop was added to repair tools and make parts. When the building was completed in the 1940's, Ely's Mill had grown to almost Twernty buildings.