Features of Interest...

Early History Of The Area

The 46-acre Autrey Mill property has changed from dense woods to fertile farmland, and back to woodlands. Before the 1830's, the land was virgin forest and Cherokee Indian territory. After the Cherokees left the area, it was given to farmers by the government under the condition that they make it profitable. This meant clearing the land and planting cash crops, principally cotton, but also corn and wheat.

Several families have owned the property. The first deed on the land was in 1860 to L.P. Howell, who bought 40 acres for $175.00; this land is closer to Old Alabama Road. From the 1860's, the deed went from one member of the Howell family to another, then to the Autrey family in 1877. Ownership passed among several members of the Autrey family until 1907, when the land was purchased by Mr. Copeland. The last private owner was the deBray family, who owned the property from the 1960's until 1988, when the deed was transferred to the City of Atlanta and Fulton County.

The land where Autrey Mill buildings are today was owned by the Summerour family, although they did not live here. The Autrey land ran along the creek and closer to Old Alabama Road.

The Ruins of Autrey Mill

Owned and operated by the Autrey Family from 1877 to the early 1900's, the mill was located on property west of the center along Sal's Creek. Five stories high, the structure was built for grinding wheat flour; corn was secondary. However by the late 1890's, the flour facilities were discontinued because people could buy flour in the store. By the 1920's, the mill had been abandoned; it was decaying and falling apart. The best account of the story of Autrey Mill comes from a book, The Cotton Renter's Son, by G.L. (George) Vaughan, published in 1967. The Vaughans were tenant farmers who lived in the area in the 1890's.

The dam was built of stacked rock about 300 yards upstream from the mill. Built into the banks of the ravine, the rock extended into the stream with wood filling in the center. This dam blocked the water up into a natural ravine, which formed the lake that powered the water mill.

The ruins of the old mill and dam are not easily visible today. The location of the miller's home was uphill from the mill and is also no longer evident.

The Visitors Center (a.k.a, deBray House - Aida's Acres)

The Visitors Center has exhibits and information, and is also a gathering point for groups and activities. Meet our live turtles and other animals in exhibit.

Built in the 1860's as a tenant house for the Summerour plantation, the original three-room farmhouse included the kitchen, two small downstairs rooms (now the volunteer room and office), and a front proch which faced Autrey Mill Road. The porch was later removed. The building housed as many as eight family members during the Depression.

Mr. Fred (a banker) and Mrs. Aida deBray (a music and drama teacher) purchased the property in the late 1960's to get away from their crowded in-town neighborhood. Their plan was to move "out to the country" and buy lots of land where no one else lived - with the idea that their entire family would eventually build homes on the property. After their purchase, they undertook extensive renovation of the entire site. All of their building projects were done a little at a time. The house, garage, and barn were all worked on at the same time.

Their 1970's expansion of this house included what is now the exhibit area. Mrs. deBray asked her friends and piano and drama students to bring rock which was used to build the unique fireplace - shaped like a grand piano - in the current exhibit area. They also updated the kitchen by adding the cabinets and rock counters.

In the late 1980's, both deBrays were in their late 80's. Following Mr. deBray's death during this time, the property was acquired by the Atlanta Fulton County Water Commission in 1988. Then, Mrs. deBray moved to be closer to her son.

This five-room house now serves as the Visitors' Center. It includes an exhibit area, offices, and tenant quarters.

The Star Pond and Courtyard

Mrs. deBray had the star pond and star patio built to celebrate her students' abilities - to honor all of her "stars."

The deBray Chapel

The Program Barn (a.k.a. The Guest House)

The Program Barn is host to many of Autrey Mill's classes, programs, and events.

Built in 1942 by the Abernathy family (Mr. Copeland's tenants), the middle section of the building was the original barn. It was a very small structure, with room for only one mule and one cow. In the early 1970's, Mrs. deBray added the stone wings on either side to use as a storage and guest house for her five visiting grandchildren and friends from Atlanta. The building was renovated in 2004 and is currently used as a classroom and for storage.

The Farm Museum

The deBrays built this building in the 1970's as a garage. Our current plans are to renovate it to use as a farm museum.

The Tenant Farmhouse

The restored Tenant Farmhouse showcases some of the tools and living environment of the time including furnishings and other items from the time.

Originally located on the land owned by Will Summerour, this small 1800's house was occupied by the families of various tenant farmers, who often moved from house to house in the spring to more productive land. The house was relocated from the adjacent Water Treatment Plant property about 1/4 mile to its current site in 1990. It was renovated in 1991 to serve as a museum. The current furnishings were donated by "Old Timers" from the area and depict how the house might have been furnished in the early 1900's. The old sewing machine used to be on the porch of of The Visitors' Center.

Thsi two-room dwelling (a 3rd room vanished over the years) was occupied by the nine-member Garrett family in the 1920's. One of the children, Medie Garrett (age 72 at the time of this interview) recalled her childhood living in this house:

> "We didn't have no electricity or nothing, but in some ways, life was better. No crime, and people helped each other."

> "Wintertime, it was really cold. We had the fireplace, and we had the cook stove to try to keep warm by. We had plenty of wood."

> "We seven children walked 3 miles on a dirt road to Westview School and 2 miles to Pleasant Hill Baptist Church. There wasn't much in the way of entertainment. We picked cotton and shucked corn and toted wood."

The Outhouse and Feeding Trough

Built on-site in the early 1990's, both the outhouse and feeding trough are replicas of what was used by the tenant farmers. Note that outhouses were generally built about 50 feet from the house. The trough was used for hay or grain to feed animals.

The Summerour House

The Summerour House is an 1880s style farmhouse, presently undergoing renovation for use as an events facility and heritage museum.

Charles William Summerour built this house on the corner of Spruill Road and Old Alabama Road (where the Spruill Oak's Library is now) in the early 1880's. One of the wealthiest families in the area, the Summerour family owned the land where the Atlanta Athletic Club is located. Much larger and grander than the Spruill Oaks' house, the original family house was sited in the field across from the club. The family's property extended to Parsons Road. One of the Summerours was an inventor who invented a strain of cotton that was resistant to the boll weevil, produced more lint, and saved the cotton industry in Georgia.

A cotton farmer, Charles owned about 900 acres around his Old Alabama/Spruill Road house. The land was given to him by his father, Homer, who bought a much larger parcel of land for $5,000.00 at a bankruptcy auction. Will, his wife Emma, and their seven children lived there until 1903. Then, they built a larger house across the river and farmed a bigger piece of land for more cotton.

Steve Spruill bought the house in 1903. It remained in his family for many ears, until it was purchased in the late 1980's by the City of Atlanta/Fulton County Water Resources Commission.

Moved to its current site in May 1992, the house is currently being restored in a Victorian fashion. It will serve as a museum, classroom space and rental facility for small events.

The Warsaw Church

Established as a Methodist Campground in the 1820's, this bulding dates back to 1864. Originally located on Medlock Bridge Road (across from St. Ives), it was moved to Autrey Mill in March 2004. Once renovations are completed, it will be used for classrooms, assemblies, and weddings.

The G.W. Green Family Store

The G.W. Green Family Store was built in the 1920's. The store was located at the corner of Old Alabama Road and Buice Road and was moved to Autrey Mill in October 2004. The store operated from the 1920's until 1958 during which time it provided supplies, as well as a gathering place, for area residents. Several old items were left in the store, such as a quilt top that is backed in 1929 newspaper. These items will be on display and used as part of this teaching museum.

The Nature Trail

The 1-1/2 mile nature trail features a walk through hardwood forest to pine forest. It wanders past a scenic creek with rocky shoals, many spring seeps, mature trees, wildflowers, native plants, and considerable animal life. The trail includes bridges and a wetland pavilion.

A second trail, to be called "The Mill Trail," is currently under construction and will eventually connect to the first trail. It will follow along the location of the old mill site.