Sassafras Mill
1920 - 1974
This is the boiler portion of the sassafras mill that operated in Hickory Valley. It took native sassafras roots and processed them into an aromatic oil used in medicine, perfume, and flavoring. A man with a mule regularly dug a ton of roots a day and was paid $14.00. One owner promoted the mill by paying his workers with bills dipped in the oil. In its final years of operation, the Hickory Valley sassafras mill was the only one in the United States.
Marker is at the intersection of Tennessee Route 18 and Church Street, on the right when traveling south on State Route 18.
Courtesy hmdb.org
