Cheek Mill Tragedy of 1920

Wednesday November 21, 1920, the day before Thanksgiving, was a sad day for the community of Dunwoody, Georgia. A boiler explosion caused the death of three Dunwoody men that day. The boiler was located at the Cheek mills on the southeast corner of the Mount Vernon Road and Chamblee Dunwoody intersection. In the small farming community, everyone was affected by the loss.

The Cheek mills, owned by Joberry Cheek, included a flour mill, lumber mill, and cotton gin. The intersection represented the heart of the community, where most of the businesses and churches were located. Dunwoody School was located next door to the mill on Chamblee Dunwoody Road. The school sat on the property that is today home to Spruill Center for the Arts and the Dunwoody library.

Kathryne Carpenter and Guy Hall had come early to build a fire in the school stove that day. They heard the explosion.

The explosion was caused by the malfunction of a gauge, followed by water making contact with the dry boiler. History reports that debris was found one half mile away and that the sound was similar to thunder.

The three men who were killed were Graham Spruill, age 24, Lynn O’Shields, age 40, and John Manning, age 40. Graham Spruill was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Calhoun Spruill, who lived just across the road from the mills and also heard the explosion. Graham Spruill and his wife were expecting a child. Lynn (short for Leonard) O’Shields was the father of eight children. John Manning, son of son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Manning, was also a father of eight children.

Benny Spruill, who was the fireman at the mill and 22-years-old, was injured during the explosion.

The men were all carried to the Cheek home that stood where Panera Bread is today. This home was still standing though around 1970 and is remembered by many because it was in such disrepair.

The Atlanta Constitution published an article on November 27, 1920 telling of the tragic event. The headline read “Three are killed as boiler bursts.” The article refers to the men as employees of the Cheek Milling Company.

The funeral services were held at the New Hope Presbyterian Church, which was located on Chamblee Dunwoody Road across the street from where Publix is today. The church was adjacent to the New Hope Cemetery, a historic landmark of Dunwoody. The three men are all buried in New Hope Cemetery.

The inscription on John Leonard O’Shields grave marker reads “Gone but not forgotten.”