Allen Summers built the three-story hand-hewn structure known today as Dial Mill after purchasing three fractional lots at a public auction in the 1820s. It was one of the first commercial mills to be built in this region. The property is bounded by the historic Hightower (Etowah) Trail to the north and Little Haynes Creek to the east. Though the traditional date of construction is believed to be circa 1830, Summers may have begun construction of the mill earlier. Oral tradition has suggested that the dam for the mill was complete before 1830. Summers died in 1845 and the property was deeded to his son, James M. Summers, by his wife. The younger Summers leased the property to John Wells and William Puckett, with later assistance in the operation of the mill being provided by William’s brother, Pleasant Puckett. Pleasant’s wife Winnie is said to have protected the mill from Union troops during the Civil War.
In 1875, James M. Summers sold the mill to E. B. Rosser, who made a great success of the operation. In 1898, metal rollers replaced the grinding stones and the mill became known as Princeton Roller Mills [Princeton was in reference to the community which grew up around the mill]. In 1909, the mill was sold to George Dial and Sons, and though they only owned it for nine years, the name Dial Mill remains in use to this day. The Fowler family owned it from 1918-1942, and it was sold to the Costley Brothers , who owned it until 1964.
The mill is presently in need of stabilization.
National Register of Historic Places
I lived on Dial Mill Rd for about 2.5 years back in the late 1970s, got to be friends with the owners/residents at the time, visited the dam, saw the flume flowing with water and the massive water wheel going along with being inside the mill admiring the action and tools of the day. Waded/swam in the creek just below the mill close to the Dial Mill bridge.
The mill has recently been sold to a gentleman out of Gwinnett county and he is totally renovated it. brought it back to its natural look and it is absolutely beautiful. We are a neighbor to the mill for 45 years and I promise you it is a beautiful place well taken care of. One of the only places in Georgia that Sherman did not burn.
Why has it been sold the evidence there is being destroyed I know alot about this land iuse tm take my kids swimming there and they would go off adventuring The found underground rooms and a 1901 indian woman’s journal I know secret stuff about this place why is itbeing destroyed for plz reply asap to Shelby Pilgrim 7709404435 thanku I’m a very concerned citizen
Until now, i had not known of this as other than Summers Mill. My 3rd great grandfather, James Allen Summers, built it apparently, also he died in 1847, burial location for him and wife Margarette Davis Summers is ongoing.
Family historian and my cousin, Lindley Butler, PhD, of Rockingham, NC wrote in a letter to my grandmother, verifying “Allen J Summers of Summers Mill near Oxford, Newton co Ga; hus dau Martha Ann Rebecca Summers mart Charles Higgasin Anderson, b SC, d Cobb co Ga. ”
Anderson fam above, bur in Powder Springs Methiist Church.
Allen Summers is mentioned in land lottery, i believe ca 1827- either Newton or Rockdale county, and at some point Summers fam also lived in Covington/Conyers, Ga.
I would hope this property has been preserved.
I believe I know where they are buried I’ve made this place a passion of mine for many yrs I actually have one of his journals and it speaks of him being buried down by the warming house.You can reach me thru my email at pilgrimshelby77@gamil.com thanku