The Stephens family established and operated a mill as early as 1850 in the Young Harris region, where they were pioneer settlers. The mill, initially a one-story grist mill on Brasstown Creek, was accompanied by a two-story house nearby, which was built in 1839. This house is believed to be one of the oldest standing houses in the county.

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Ownership of the mill and house remained in the Stephens family until 1917, when Tom Townsend acquired the property. Tom then sold it to his brother Joe Townsend and nephew Gus Townsend later that same year. The Townsends expanded the mill, raised the dam, and introduced a sawmill. The mill ran on a turbine rather than a water wheel, making it more energy-efficient. It quickly became a central part of the community, with the dam providing an ideal spot for creek baptisms.

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In 1956, the dam was washed away, but the mill continued to serve the community under the Townsend family, who transported and sold flour and cornmeal. The property was bought by the Flanagan family in 1979, and the mill, unfortunately, had to be demolished in 1987 due to its deteriorating condition. The house, however, still stands, and the area is now referred to as the Townsend Mill community.​

 

During the creation of the painting, artist Marty Hayden drew inspiration from a 1917 photograph of the mill. Tommy Flanagan, who shared the property's history, met with Marty during the painting process, leading to the inclusion of the house in the artwork. Further discoveries of a baptism photo at the mill, identified by Tommy, prompted Marty to expand the painting to include the baptism scene. The painting measures  3 feet tall by 6 feet wide, featuring a frame crafted from an old mill belt and raw-edge wood, paying homage to the Stephens/Townsend Mill.

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In the painting, Gus Townsend is depicted standing on the mill porch, while the individuals standing in the creek, from left to right, are Rev. Dolph Swanson, Edna Dyer, Osman Wellborn, Luther Reed, Buren Reed, Annie Joe Plott, and Howard Dyer.