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An unexpected restoration

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Photo courtesy of David Brogdon.

What started as a project to move an old gristmill from Clanton to Chelsea soon turned into a restoration project that has become one of the area’s newest wedding venues. 

David Brogdon, president and CEO of the Brogdon Group, based in Meadow Brook, had begun a development project in North Shelby County. He wanted to find an old gristmill to move onto the property for the aesthetic novelty of the spinning water wheel. 

When a friend told Brogdon the historic Shannon Mill in Clanton was for sale, he went to see it the next day. He made an offer onsite and closed within a week. After the purchase, Brogdon decided the mill would not survive a move, and instead made plans for a restoration of the entire property, which included 2.5 acres of land and a waterfall, along with the mill and all of its contents. 

The original structure, built in the 1850s, was destroyed by a flood, rebuilt in 1934, and then bought in 1945 by H. H. Miller, whose family would own it for the next 60 years. 

Still containing much of the original equipment dating back to before the Civil War, the mill could once produce 4,500 pounds of cornmeal, flour or grits daily. The products were sold in over 200 stores in seven surrounding counties. Today, the historic mill is only one of a few still standing across the state, and one of the only, if not the only, still operational water-powered mills in Alabama.

“We left all the working stuff in place and built the bridal suite around the working components,” Brogdon said. “We put about $40,000 worth of windows in this building, and you can see all the belts and pulleys, as the bridal suite overlooks the waterfall.” 

Chris Reebals from Christopher Architects in Birmingham oversaw the design of the renovation, while workers from the community showed up in droves to play a role in bringing the beloved property back to life. A landmark of Chilton County, Brogdon said the community was thrilled about the prospect of the mill being restored. 

“We had people stop and want to help work on it, or have their pictures made in front of it,” he said. “The mill went through generations of people in Chilton County, but no one around [Birmingham] had heard of it or seen it.”

The project was extensive and included providing indoor plumbing and grading the land to make a parking lot. Brogdon, however, kept the rustic charm of the mill, including its 16-foot waterwheel. 

The full renovation only took about four months and was completed last November, in time for the Brogdon family’s Thanksgiving celebration, followed in December by the Brogdon Group’s corporate Christmas party.

To make some of the money back, Brogdon came up with the idea of turning it into an event venue for weddings, parties, corporate day retreats and even football game-watching parties. The working boardroom includes a 120-inch screen, 3-D projectors and plenty of speakers. As word about the venue spreads, inquiries for events are rolling in.

“Weddings are booking up, and we have a whole calendar full of things coming up in the next few months,” Brogdon said. 

Brogdon has a passion for Alabama history, and said it was an honor to give the mill new life to be a place for others to enjoy. The Miller family was also grateful for the restoration of the property that was in their family for generations. 

“The Millers came to the open house and were all smiles,” Brogdon said. “Chilton County has been all behind us. We see the mill it as a revenue producer, and for them, it’s a new business to bring more people into their county.”

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