970 Thornton Road 

Lithia Springs, GA  30122-2622  

Sweetwater Creek is a peaceful tract of wilderness only minutes from bustling downtown Atlanta.  There are actually 4 trails.  We will hike the Red and Blue trails that will be about 4 miles total. On the trails, we will wind through several lovely stream coves, a stretch of the whitewater rapids and follow the ridges overlooking Sweetwater Creek. We will pass the New Manchester textile mill ruins where we will get a special tour down into the ruins (limited to 25) and a history lesson from Park Ranger Don Scarbough. The mill, one of the largest factories in Georgia, was destroyed in 1864 by Union General William T. Sherman's troops. 

I will tell you that we can be proud to know that not only did enslaved workers build the mill more than 150 years ago, they also made/manufactured the bricks.  We should take pride in the skills of our forefathers.  The building stood 5 stories high and was the tallest in Atlanta at the time.  I suggest you focus on the workmanship that apparently was so superior that after being blown up during the civil war, these ruins you will see still remain after 150+ years.