About 1863, Thomas M. Ray and Levi J. Knight observed that pioneers had settled southern Berrien County, GA to the extent that the establishment of a grist mill to serve the local community was warranted. With the assistance of slave labor, an earthen dam and concrete spillway was constructed to impound a millpond on the swampy headwaters of Beaverdam Creek. The mill house itself was constructed from the local timber; “The ceiling rafters were hand hewed and wood pegs were used instead of nails.”
Ray’s Mill, Ray City, Berrien County, GA
On November 7, 1863 Mr. Ray began operation of the mill, then known as Knight & Ray’s Mill. Powered by water from the pond, the mill could grind meal and hominy grits from corn.
The old mill hopper and mill rock at Ray’s Mill. Image source: Colquitt Electric Membership Newsletter (full article available at http://www.southermatters.com
Ray’s Mill was the first commercial enterprise of historic Ray City. At one time the mill was the central gathering place of this part of Berrien County, as men would take their corn there to be ground. “People would travel for miles by horsedrawn wagons to have several months supply of meal or grits ground for their family. This generally resulted in a a outing for the whole family.”
As Ray’s Mill was the best known landmark of the immediate vicinity, the growing community became known by that name also. The area’s first postal station was established as early as 1863. The 1864 Census for the Reorganization of the Georgia Militia shows that AK Harmon was then serving as a postmaster for the 1144th Georgia Militia District, which was centered on Ray’s Mill.
The location of the mill also became the site of the community’s first post office. In 1885, The Official Register of the United States listed H.H. Knight as Post Master of “Ray’s Mills”, Berrien County, Georgia. By 1886, The Atlanta Medical and Surgical Journal reported that the community had a doctor, serving a population of 150 people. During the decade of the 1890’s Berrien county was one of the top ten fastest growing counties in Georgia. In the late 1890s and early 1900s David Rigell operated a general merchandise store located near the old mill. Rigell’s merchantile may have been only the second retail establishment at Ray’s Mill (now Ray City), although it is often incorrectly cited as the first.
The grist mill ceased operation in 1954 after 91 years of operation. Even though the town was incorporated as Ray City in 1909, it was still being marked on maps as Rays Mill as late as 1952.
The millhouse has since been torn down, but Rays Millpond remains as one of the eduring landmarks of Ray City, GA.
An old news photo showing remants of original equipment at Ray’s Mill.
Ray City History Blog 
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