Healan Mill

This is Healen Mill, located in Hall County near Lula, GA. It is currently enclosed by fencing for future restoration purposes.

Healan Mill was built on the headwaters of the North Oconee River, on Whitehall Road, in The Galde District of Hall County, Ga. by William Head in 1852.

The mill is typical of the early frame mills of the southeastern United States, having the ground level containing the mechanical equipment, the first and second floors were utilized for the grinding, sifting and baging operations. The mill operated over a 100 years, an example of a rural agrarian industrial endeavor.

This last extant grist mill in Hall County was a grist (flour) mill, shingle mill, cotton gin, and saw mill during its period of operation. The steel waterwheel pictured was a replacement for the wooden wheel; this feat accomplished by F. H.Turner in the early 1930's.

Fred & Burnice Healan purchased the mill in 1967 and immediately made some repairs to slow the rot and rusting, thereby probably saving the mill so that it could be preserved starting in 2003.

Through the combined efforts of the Gainesvill/Hall Trust for Historical Preservation, the Head's Mill Trust for Historicasl Preservation, & the Trust for Public Land (TPL) of Georgia, the mill, raceway, millpond and 5 acres of land and stream are on their way, since 2003, of being preserved for future generations to see and enjoy. The architect firm of OJP/ARCHITECT, Inc. are involved in spearheading the preservation eforts.