Head's Mill
Also known as: Healan's Mill
Why it's listed
Head's Mill is a former water-powered grist mill complex beside the North Oconee River near Lula, Hall County, Georgia. The two-and-one-half-story, mortise-and-tenon frame mill dates from about 1850 and was run by William Head, who bought the site in 1852. The complex also includes a dam of early poured concrete probably from the 1880s, a sluiceway, an elevated millrace, a brick garage and a barn from about 1890 that once held a wine press. A metal overshot wheel and millrace replaced wooden ones in the 1930s. The mill ground corn, feed and some grain for local farms, and at various times housed a cotton gin, shingle mill, sawmill and feed crusher. Surplus meal was sold in Gainesville. It operated until the 1950s and is described as the only surviving grist mill in Hall County. Its wheel and raised millrace design is described as unusual for north Georgia. The property is currently not in use.
Significance in brief: The complex is argued to be significant for its association with rural milling in the White Sulphur Springs area of Hall County, and for its mid-19th century wood-framed mill design. It is also noted for its relatively rare overshot waterwheel with a raised millrace, dam and sluiceway. It is described as the only surviving grist mill in Hall County.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89002301, listed January 12, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Whitehall Rd., E of jct. with US 23, Lula |
|---|---|
| County | Hall County |
| Listed | January 12, 1990 |
| Reference number | 89002301 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | C. 1850-1939 |
| Architect / builder | William Head |
| Architectural style | Other: functional |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Engineering, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is listed as vacant/not in use; the mill equipment was operational until the 1950s. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 34.37444, -83.73176 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89002301.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q141765076
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.