2007 Soque River Cleanup - Photo

Submitted by: Amber Jensen

Memories of my Days on the Soque

Submitted by: Helen Addis Chitwood

I lived on, or around the Soque most of my life. Both of my parents, Jim and Myrtle Addis, retired after over forty years of service to the Mill. Daddy worked for the power plant and Mama worked for the Mill. My brother Jim and sister Frances also worked for the Mill. I remember that every day after school I would go up to the power plant to see daddy. He would let me fish out the power plant window, or I would play on the shoals in front of the plant.

It does scare me to think now of all the dangerous things I did around the river. I didn’t know how to swim, but that didn’t stop me. I remember when the bridges washed out after a big storm. We lived across the river from the mill at that time. Daddy had to cross the river with a boat and pulley system. He always told me not to cross alone. So naturally I wanted to go to the mill store and set across the river by myself. As I was pulling myself across the cable jumped out of the pulley and I became stranded. Luckily a man that worked for the Mill saw me and came to my rescue. He fixed the cable and got me safely to shore, and then told my daddy what I had done, which was no fun at all.

Another memory I have is of walking across the lower part of the dam when the water wasn’t running over. I never thought about what would happen if they opened the gates one day while I was on the dam. I never told anyone either (especially daddy) about where I was or what I was doing. The only people that knew at the time were my friends who had tagged along. In fact daddy never found out that I did that in fear that he might still spank me, but I did eventually tell mama, about thirty years later.

I have so many great stories and memories from my childhood river days that could fill a book. I am so proud to say that I lived in the mill village of Habersham, and I am forever grateful of my time on the river. But guess what? I still never learned to swim!

Historic Soquee Photos

Submitted by: Helen Chitwood

The river gave life to Habersham Mills and in turn the Mill families brought life to the river. Here are some photos of life at Habersham Mills along the Soque River in the 1940's.