Ray and Cindy Bryan purchased the old Henderson Mill in 1976 to restore and use as their primary residence. The old mill had a long history that dated to the early 1800s, when Johnny Wells constructed the building on the Alcovy River in Georgia.
On the third floor of the dwelling is a huge loft that is said to be haunted by a nine-year-old slave named Benjie. The story was relayed to Cindy Smith Brown for Middle Georgia Magazine.
“When the Federal troops were in the area during the war, they set fire to a sawmill, wagon shop, and cotton gin nearby. They also shelled the mill, causing considerable smoke damage. Benjie, his nineteen-year-old sister, Mannie, and the mill’s overseer went up to the third floor looking for safety. Fortunately, some of… Wheeler’s boys (Confederate cavalry) came by and (ran) off the Yankees before the mill was burned down. Mannie and the overseer decided to drop Benjie out of the third-floor window, hoping to save his life. But Benjie got twisted in the fall and died. The ghost tracers who’ve been here tell me Benjie’s here with me all the time, and when things go missing, he’s the one who takes them or moves them.”
The mill is located off Georgia 36 at the intersection of Dixie Road and Henderson Mill Road.
Written By John G. Clark Jr.