
There is much to be learned from this history. A largely indigenous industry gradually
elevated a South devastated by war. Small farmers who faced worn-out land, unfair railroad rates
and a precarious market found a foothold toward betterment of their families. In the footsteps of their
forebears, they forged small communities where neighbors helped neighbors and they never locked their
doors. The loss of the textile industry signifies more than a loss of jobs; we are losing a way of life.
If you were reared on a mill hill, no matter how successful you might have become, or where
life finds you, there remains in your heart a warm place that can still be stirred by memories of that place and
its people.
It is up to you to become a link in the chain of memory. It is up to each town and community to
fashion these first celebrations in a manner that honors and befits this rich legacy. Reconnect with your old friends
and classmates, retell the story of your mill town to schoolchildren or even choose to clean up the mill village
graveyard that remains sacred ground. Without fail, find
some way to publicly remember and celebrate your
textile heritage this October. You are part of history and your efforts will make history.
To join the movement that is working to save this history, please contact the Textile Heritage Center,
PO Box 667, Cooleemee, NC 27014, call (336) 284-6040 or visit www.TextileHeritage.org.
Celebration
Events &
Proclamations
Greenville
Textile Heritage
Band
Glencoe Village
Christmas Tour
A Tribute to WW
II Veterans
West Fest in Old
West Durham
Saturday, Oct 13
4-6 pm at Green
& Virgie
cont....
Wilmington, NC
Mill Hill
Association
Porterdale, GA
Alamance County
Glencoe, NC
, also
Textile Heritage
Museum
Shelby, NC -
First
proclamation in
the South by
Mayor Ted
Alexander
Historic
Cabarrus
(Concord NC)
Kannapolis, NC
Kannapolis
Bookends Book
Club
The Kannapolis
Bookends Book
Club
704-920-1180
Tuesday, October
2 7:00 pm
Ladies In the
Draw-In Room
- Sue Ellen Frye
Saxapahaw, NC
October 6th
Textile Heritage
Exhibits &
Former Mill
Employees
Reunion
Valley, AL
Pineville, NC --
Charlotte
Observer -
August 16, 2007
- 3U UNION
WEEK WILL
RECOGNIZE
TEXTILE HISTORY,
PINEVILLE IS
HONORING THE
FABRIC OF ITS
HERITAGE WITH
CELEBRATION
Pineville is
honoring its
milltown
roots this fall
with a weeklong
textile heritage
celebration.
Town officials
have
declared the
first week of
October Textile
Heritage Week.
During the
celebration,
town historian
Joe Griffin will
speak about the
history of
Pineville’s
mill, and the
Belle Johnston
Community Center
will display old
tools, photos,
textiles and
other
items, said
Kristy Detwiler,
head of
Pineville Parks
& Recreation.
The town will
also honor
former...
Greenville, SC
www.scmillhills.com
Governor of
South Carolina
-Proclamation