Repurposing History: The Mill on Etowah
One of the metro’s hottest adaptive re-use developments is showcased in the historic 120-year-old former Canton Cotton Mill on the banks of the Etowah River near downtown Canton.
![The Mill on Etowah in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=320&s=a06b28e9d6960ee85ed29c935df2d02f 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=540&s=b63a666771c20d9d38d3107126e87611 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=768&s=70fa0194434fd1118c77e819a9e606ae 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=1024&s=bc6d73036a98321c1858890dc7aa2336 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=1200&s=e9d8ad55935a4f8b8710de7b7a7d96f8 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=1440&s=3407728f0e95f0a6ee5d8193493257c3 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=1920&s=d2dfbd26eb2e9daf505283d0d16fc85d 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=2560&s=c884d8e84f35c3b1244b2cf5a6880c67 2560w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/Mill_on_Etowah_Downtown_Canton_0005.jpeg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=48.18%2031.43&q=80&w=3840&s=82a93aec0abaf970a237e1d49ddb6f34 3840w)
The Mill on Etowah in the former denim factory now features a brewery and taproom, a retail marketplace, restaurants, a co-working environment, and more. The 250,000-square-foot destination in the former Canton Cotton Mill property overlooking the Etowah River is at 225 Reformation Parkway in Canton and also features an events green with stage and visual screen.
A key component of the project is the rich history of the area, and each company that is a part of the Mill on Etowah is encouraged to tell their history as well as the history of the community, project developer Penn Hodge says.
“What makes this exciting is that at its heart it’s about history,” Hodge said. “From the Native Americans who had their homes along this river, to the days of the denim mill, we want to share the story of what went on before us in this historic community.”
Canton City Councilor Brooke Schmidt says she is glad to see what the project is accomplishing in the city.
![Etowah river map at The Mill on Etowah in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=c20a448b2fd466f90875637886cc3b1c 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=9dbc1ac490e6dadf6f6c69a4e5cda297 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=f90befe2df54ee4a39116143394de5be 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=8f24a00139b490e239c769849cf6a813 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=5d288bc6e9450bd9bff23cea49449efa 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=096043796f6ca1396abe677a6136ae83 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=b2a535153e74ded600c8970ecce9d7fe 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-16.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=5a4b3245d79319fb764d772c02cf5ffe 2048w)
“What makes this exciting is that at its heart it’s about history,” Hodge said. “From the Native Americans who had their homes along this river, to the days of the denim mill, we want to share the story of what went on before us in this historic community.”
Canton City Councilor Brooke Schmidt says she is glad to see what the project is accomplishing in the city.
“The Mill on Etowah project is such an incredible example of place-based economic development through a historic preservation project. Creating this sought-after destination in downtown Canton has strengthened the community, attracting visitors and small businesses. And it isn’t only the downtown area that benefits; these types of projects have a positive impact on home values around the city,” Schmidt pointed out.
Hodge purchased the property from the Jones family, which founded the denim-producing mill in 1899 by Robert Tyre Jones, along with a group of local investors. Jones was a leader in banking and commerce in Canton at the time and the plant was the first of two cotton mills built by the owners along the river.
Canton was incorporated in 1834, on land that at the time was still part of the Cherokee Nation. Early investors in the cotton mill were from families who helped settle the area.
“Our two themes include bringing the community and people together, and honoring history through place-making, story-telling, art, and photos from the past,” Hodge points out.
![Cherokee Statue at The Mil on Etowah in Canton Georgia](https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=320&s=a7e7fa8ba3f871829905a363ede3f563 320w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=540&s=f3eabde5bea5f129af03ebc5c9c5e507 540w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=768&s=04c67b7d078b299c1bc13b7c349e3958 768w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1024&s=fb99e5fb0495f3da82f47ac231c4db0f 1024w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1200&s=1840f4ab51a72659924cd1215876ce62 1200w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1440&s=e53cb5a72866009a1a61c63664697d0f 1440w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=1920&s=eee1d916781b5f23b97762ebb1fe6005 1920w, https://cantonga.imgix.net/images/The-Mill-2.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&position=50%2050&q=80&w=2560&s=86b50198901880b8d5c125fadbd3e53f 2048w)
A stroll around the property offers a chance to view significant historic art such as a bronze native American statue, works by famous artists in the late 1800s, old prints of Cherokee and Creek chieftains, as well as photographs of the mill, the Jones family, and those who worked at the denim producing facility.
Events throughout the year support and honor local nonprofits, while a variety of activities offer an environment of inclusiveness for the community.
The Mill project was honored with the 2019 Georgia “Deal of the Year” Award from Georgia Economic Developers Association for the visionary use of the historic property to attract office, retail, residential, and tourism activity.
This was featured in the Historic Canton magazine. Read more.
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225 Reformation Pkwy Canton, GA 30114 (678) 762-9950