Athens Manufacturing Company

Terraced into the steep north bank of the North Oconee River in Whitehall, five miles south of Athens, this textile mill complex began operating in 1830 as the Athens Manufacturing Company. It was incorporated as the Georgia Manufacturing Company in 1839. John White, an Irish immigrant hired in 1833, became sole owner and replaced the first mill in 1854. A fire destroyed the second mill in 1892, and a third mill was underway the next year. Later additions included cotton warehouses, a payroll office, a second mill and power plant, and a water tower. Thomas Textiles ran the site until 1988. The stone-lined mill race of 1830 is the earliest surviving resource. The buildings show slow-burn construction, with masonry walls, large windows and open floor plans. The complex was recognized for its role in Georgia's textile industry and for its mill architecture. It was rehabilitated into 58 loft apartments, with historic materials and features retained.