| backyard traveler | Being in such a rural location, everything
was provided on this one tract
of land. In the main building—The
Company Store—were the post office,
church, school, store and bank. Mill
currency (paper and wooden) — the
doogaloo script — purchased everything.
Much like a revolving door, the
workers were paid by the mill owner in
script; they, in turn, could only spend
it at the company store, continuing
80 LAKE OCONEE LIVING | FALL 2021
the cash flow cycle for the owners.
Although a bare-bones community,
Henry River was an alliance of people
who not only worked together but also
existed as family.
When the company ceased operations
in the 1970s, the property was sold;
the last resident moved out in the late
1980s.
And then, Hollywood took notice.
One of the most unique and
crazy finds within the company
store for Reyes is a gallon of
Pinesol. The label reads, “can
be used internally” and “result
will be marvelous.”