Archaeological Data Recovery at 9Co344 and 9Co345, Cobb County, Georgia

Archaeological survey and testing were undertaken previously for the proposed Kennedy Parkway Project, Cobb County, Georgia (Wheaton et al. 1992; Wheaton and Reed 1993). That research recommended two archaeological sites, 9C0344 and 9C0345, as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Site 9C0344 is the remains of a large, postbellum flour mill associated with the Akers family; the mill was locally known as Akers Mill, Akers Empire Mill, or Empire Flour Mill. Site 9C0345 is an apparent house site. Portions of both sites face potential impact from the proposed construction; the remainders of the sites will not face indirect impact. Since the proposed impact to the NRHP eligible sites could not be avoided, data recovery investigations were proposed to mitigate the adverse effects of the proposed undertaking. At the request of Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc., Brockington and Associates conducted data recovery excavations at 9C0344 and 9C0345 from 29 August to 13 September 1994. The expected structure at 9C0345 was not within the proposed corridor; no features or structural remains were found. The supposed structure location is in an area of the site which had been impacted by previous construction in the area. The occupant/function of the house are unknown. Because the two sites are historically linked, the investigations of both sites are presented in this report. Data from 9C0344 confirmed the presence of Akers Mill and yielded further information about this site. The mill at 9C0344 produced flour for market. It operated between the years of 1873 and about 1896. Sometime after 1880, use of the mill's water powered turbine was discontinued, and a steam engine was added to the mill. This mill was a vernacular adaptation of Oliver Evan's nineteenth century mill design.