Cotton Mill Destroyed by Fire
The structure, which dated back to 1897, had been abandoned and in derelict condition for many years. Nothing was stored in the building.
The General Western Cotton Mill in east Douglasville at 6398 E. Broad St. (Bankhead Highway) was destroyed by fire early this morning.
The structure, which dated back to 1897, had been abandoned and in derelict condition for many years, with the property surrounding the mill grown up with vegetation. Nothing was stored in the building.
Douglas County E911 received the call at 12:07 a.m., and Douglas County Fire/EMS were on the scene in two minutes. They found the structure engulfed in fire with flames showing through the roof.
Because of the dilapidated condition of the building, and the presence of numerous old timbers with creosote (high flammability), the Fire Department decided to allow the engulfed structure to burn itself out, and proceeded to protect surrounding properties, none of which was ever in danger.
There were no injuries at the fire scene.
The mill faces Bankhead Highway and the parallel Norfolk Southern Railway, and both were shut down due to smoke and fire embers blowing northward.
Norfolk Southern reopened its rail line at 2:35 a.m., but trains traveling this area are under a 25-mph speed limit until further notice.
Bankhead Highway is closed between Durelee Lane and Brown Street and will remain closed until at least daybreak because of heavy smoke.
The fire continues to burn and most likely will burn throughout most of today. Douglas County Fire/EMS will remain on site.
The Douglas County Fire/EMS investigator stated that the fire looked “suspicious” because there was no electrical power in the mill and no external fire sources, such as lightning, in the area at the time the fire started. Because of the heat and continuing fire and the instability of remaining mill walls, it may be early next week before fire investigators will have access to the site.
Lisa Cooper
9:52 am on Saturday, May 12, 2012
This is just another sad chapter in the decline of our mill. Thank you so much for linking to two of my past columns here at Patch regarding the history of the mill. I want to continue the story.....just recently I was contacted by the family members of M.E. Geer...one of the original investors and managers of the mill when it was first built. He lived along Strickland Street during that time and served a term as Douglasville's mayor, too. I want to bring other stories to life about the mill as well. I need for folks to contact me with their stories and recollections regarding family members who worked at the mill, served on the mill sports teams or lived in the mill village. I'm interested in documents, pictures, etc. I can be contacted at douglascountyhistory@gmail.com or historyiselementary@gmail.com
Bruce
3:34 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012
Douglasville and Douglas County governments have made a big deal about code enforcement for years.
If ever there was a glaring example of selective and unequal enforcement of laws, the old mill is it.
This junk heap has been an eyesore and a hazard for decades, yet the city and county have done nothing about it. Why?
An ordinary citizen can go to jail, be fined, get a year of probation and even have his property seized....FOR NOT CUTTING HIS GRASS TO SUIT A POLITICIAN!
S
Bruce
3:35 pm on Saturday, May 12, 2012
By the way, just so you will know the law...
Selective and unequal enforcement of the law is unConstitutional and therefore illegal.
Jessica
9:24 am on Sunday, May 13, 2012
Aww I loved looking at the building as we drive by :(
Tina
12:25 am on Monday, May 14, 2012
My mothes mother recieved an award for the most years of serrvice. The article was in the Sentinel. Im not sure of the date. Her name was Alma Stephens.
James Bell
10:37 am on Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Isn't this the building the city was planning to demo to make way for the Hwy 92 extension? How convenient ! I had a good laugh when the WSB reporter called the mill "Douglasville's historic treasure." They act like it was the Fabulous FOX Theater. What a dump! Eye sore. Blight. The reporters had no idea the roof had already collapsed.