File:Pigeon Forge Mill and Milldam in September 2019.jpg

English: This mill is located in the town of Pigeon Forge in the county of Sevier, Tennessee. It sits on land that was initially part of a plot of land that was 151 acres, which was approved to a Revolutionary War veteran from Virginia named, Mordecai Lewis. After his death, his son-in-law, Issac Love, constructed the iron forge for which the town would sooner or later be called. In 1830, a large gristmill was built by Love, along with his sons. Due to his iron business not making any money whatsoever, production on iron was stopped and in 1841, the entire operation was sold to Alexander Preston. On May 29th of the same year, a post office was established, by Issac Love’s son, William, for the public that industrialized all over the complex, giving it the name, Pigeon Forge. The ironworks was operated by Preston under the name, Sweden Furnace. In 1849, he sold the mill and furnace to a local businessman named, John Sevier Trotter. By 1856, two tons of iron bar was yearly made by Trotter at the Pigeon Forge furnace. Then during the U.S. Civil War, Trotter provided uniforms for local Union helpers by installing looms in the mill. After the war, Trotter extended the mill by adding wooden wheel that has 30 horsepower at 60 RPMs and starting a sawmill at the spot. In 1885, the iron furnace was dismantled and sold by Trotter’s son, George, but he continued functioning the mill. In December 1900, a local businessman named, A.T. Householder, bought the Pigeon Forge mill and installed a generator, providing electricity to the homes that occupied the river that is on the opposite side of the mill. In 1916, construction on the milldam was completed. After the Great Smoky Mountain National Park was established in 1934, the mill became a popular tourist stop when Pigeon Forge grew into a boomtown for travelers.