Franklin-Creighton Mine facts for kids
The Franklin-Creighton Mine was a very important gold mine in Georgia. It was located near the Etowah River in a town called Ball Ground. This mine was one of the most successful gold mines during the Georgia Gold Rush. It produced a lot of gold for many years.
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The Franklin-Creighton Gold Mine
Where Was the Mine?
The Franklin-Creighton Mine was found in Cherokee County, Georgia. It was located along the Etowah River. Today, you can find the area off Yellow Creek Road in Ball Ground.
How Did the Mine Start?
The mine first began as the Franklin Mine. It was started by a woman named Mrs. Mary G. Franklin. She received a piece of land about 40-acre (160,000 m2) in size. This land was given to her through something called the Gold Lottery of 1832. This lottery gave away land that was thought to have gold. Around 1883, the mine became known as the Creighton Mine or the Franklin-Creighton Mine.
A Very Productive Mine
The Franklin-Creighton Mine was one of the best gold mines in the area. It kept working for many years, even after other mines had closed. Some people believe that in 1893, the mine was making about $1000 every day. Others think that after 1880, the mine produced as much as $1,000,000 worth of gold in total. This was a huge amount of money back then!
Why Did the Mine Close?
The mine stopped operating in 1913. This happened because one of its shafts, which is like a deep tunnel, collapsed. When the shaft collapsed, the mine filled with water. This made it impossible to continue mining for gold.
What's Left Today?
As of 2022, only a few main structures from the mine still exist. One is the concrete foundation of the stamping mill. A stamping mill was a machine used to crush rocks to get the gold out. This foundation has been rebuilt into a pavilion for a nearby housing area. You can also find the old Franklin residence and the doctor's office. The "Shingle House" is also still there. This building used to be the mine's post office and general store.
