Enterprise Mill facts for kids
The Enterprise Mill is a cool old building in Augusta, Georgia. It sits right next to the Augusta Canal. Today, it's a busy place with both homes and offices. You can find it where Greene Street and 15th Street meet.
Saving a Historic Building
The Enterprise Mill is a really important landmark in Augusta. Back in 1983, the company that owned it, Graniteville Company, closed it down. For a while, people thought the old building might be torn down. This idea lasted for about 10 years!
But then, city leaders had a better idea. They wanted to give the building a new purpose. In 1995, a big project started to fix up the mill. It was part of a plan to make downtown Augusta better. After three more years, in 1998, the building was ready. Developers turned it into modern offices and cool apartments called lofts. The Enterprise Mill is a great example of how old, unused areas can be brought back to life.
A Look Back at History
The Enterprise Mill was first built by James L. Coleman. It opened in 1848 as a flour mill, which is a place that grinds grain into flour. Mr. Coleman originally wanted to build it on his own land. However, the city of Augusta helped fund a special canal. This canal, called the Augusta Canal, would provide power for the mill.
Between 1872 and 1875, the Augusta Canal was made even bigger. This brought many business owners to the area. They wanted to build their factories near the canal's power. Much of the mill's original part, made of gray granite bricks, is still standing. But most of what we see today, made of red bricks, was built in 1877. Like other big mills in Augusta, it was built right on the Augusta Canal.
In 1923, the Graniteville Company bought the mill. They added a large red sign with their name on top of the building. This sign is still there today! It glows bright red at night, making it easy to spot.
For many years, the mill was used for different kinds of manufacturing. But in 1983, it stopped working and closed its doors. People thought it would be torn down. Luckily, in the mid-1990s, the mill got a huge makeover. It was changed into apartments, shops, and offices. The Enterprise Mill now shows how downtown Augusta started to become a lively place again in the 1990s.
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