The Laurel Falls mill was owned by Sam George, who moved in 1848 to Lexington from Cedar Creek. George's mill was on the same spot where a 500-spindle 16-loom mill owned by the Laurel Falls Manufacturing Company had been until destroyed by fire in 1852.
During the 3-4 days that General Hugh J Kilpatrick's calvary and Major General Henry W Slocum's 14th and 20th Infantry Corps were in Lexington, Sam George's mill was burned to the ground along with the courthouse, St Stephen's Lutheran Church and several private homes.
George's son, Erby Joel George, a boy of 13 who was taken prisoner by Union forces during the occupation of Lexington, built a flour mill and saw mill there in 1884. The flour mill was destroyed by fire in 1918 and was rebuilt and continued in operation until 1965.
The George family opened the pond to the public as a recreational area around 1925. A two-story wooded pavillion was erected . There was swimming, boating, fishing, picnic areas, campgrounds and dancing. It was even used for wedding receptions. If you came dressed in your bathing suit admission was free; otherwise you were charged 10 cents for use of the bathhouse.
Bright-colored Model Ts parked on each side of Gibson Road any weekend during the summer. The pond was the setting for 12 and 15 table bridge parties.
When M S Gibson bought the property in 1943 from the Georges, he continued to operate it as a recreation area, adding some rental cottages.
The pond was closed to the public in 1971. Gibson Pond was purchased by the Town of Lexington to help meet the water demand of one of South Carolina's fastest growing areas. The pond has since re-opened to the public.
Source: https://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC5XQN2_laurel-falls-mill
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