Alamance County, North Carolina
Textile and Related Industry
Alamance County was an early leader in building and operating successful water-powered cotton mills in the
South. From 1832 to 1880, Alamance County men established 14 water-powered mills, with the following
eight located along the Haw River and its tributary creeks. These mills were:
1832-High Falls Mill by Ben, John and Wm. Trollinger, Hopedale. Jesse Gant was an investor but not an
active partner. The mill changed ownership several times over the years. In 1941 the present owners,
Copland Industries, purchased it. This mill has been in constant operation since 1832 making it the oldest
continuously operating textile operation in North Carolina.
1837-Alamance Cotton Factory by E.M. Holt and William Carrington on Alamance Creek several miles
upstream from the Haw River. Holt purchased Carrington’s shares in 1851. Alamance Plaids, famous
throughout the United States in the 1850s, were first produced here. They represented the first factory-dyed
cotton cloth south of the Potomac River. In 1926, John Schoffner and other investors purchased the mill and
village of Alamance. The mill was used for hosiery finishing until 1947. The name of the business was
changed to Standard Hosiery and relocated. A bronze plaque stands at the site today.
1844-Granite Mills - Ben Trollinger. The mill was built on a natural outcropping of granite along the Haw
River. The current town of Haw River developed there along the North Carolina Railroad where the bridge
was built to cross the river. Later, E. M. Holt purchased the mill in partnership with his son, Thomas. The
last operator, Cone Mills, finished corduroy there until closing. The buildings are now used for storage.
1848-Saxapahaw Cotton Factory by John Newlin and sons, Saxapahaw. E. M. Holt purchased the operation
for his sons-in-law. Later, the mill was purchased by Charles V. Sellers and B. Everett Jordan, and changed
to the production of full-fashion hosiery. Today, the mill has had a total renovation as apartments by John
Jordan and sons.
1868-Falls Neuse Manufacturing Company, Wilsonville by George Swepson and Gustave Rosenthal. In
1895, the name was changed to Virginia Mill. After 102 years of operation, the mill closed in 1970. The
building burned in 1989.
1869- Carolina Mill by J.H. and W.E. Holt, Carolina. Carolina is just up the Haw River from the High Falls
Mill. With 3,000 spindles and 60 looms, E. M. Holt and Sons doubled production. The building is currently
owned by Copland Industries.
1878-Altamahaw Cotton Mill by John Q. Gant and Berry Davidson, Altamahaw. In the early years it was a yarn
mill. By 1887, the mill produced cotton cloth. Later the main operations moved closer to Burlington adjacent
to the North Carolina Railroad. The Gant family business continues as Glen Raven Inc.
1880-Glencoe Mills, by James H. and William E. Holt, Glencoe. The mill was built on the Haw River north of
Carolina as one of the last water-powered mills built in Alamance County. A dye house built north of the mill
enabled the mill to dye, spin and weave colorful plaids. Glencoe Plaids were famous as a part of the
Alamance Plaids. When the Glencoe Mill closed in 1954, the village and mill buildings went into a deep
sleep. The owners did nothing for decades until the heirs deeded the property to Preservation North
Carolina in 1997. A restored mill village, office and company store are now open.
The Textile Heritage Museum, opened in 2004, is located in the building that housed the company office and
company store at Glencoe. www.textileheritage.org
Steam engines were originally developed in England and used successfully to pump water from iron mines
and later to power textile mills. After the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia featured a gigantic
Corliss Steam engine, mill owners gradually gained confidence that these could be used in North Carolina.
In 1882, Peter and Lafayette Holt and investor George Anthony built the Lafayette Mill, along East Webb Ave,
Burlington alongside the North Carolina Railroad. It was the first mill to operate by Corliss steam power.
Water-powered mills were now passé.
Lafayette also produced the first knitted fabric in Alamance County. The name changed to Aurora, Standard,
and later Kayser-Roth. The building is being torn down (2007).
Alamance County’s cotton mill men were renowned throughout North Carolina and were generous in
helping others set up cotton mills, including the Dukes who built five cotton mills centered in Durham, and in
establishing the Pilot Mill in Raleigh. The Raleigh News & Observer was generous in quotes. In an 1892
celebratory issue devoted to the industry, the editor said, “We wish every county in the State was an
Alamance.” In an 1895 article, similarly, “ The good old county of Alamance don’t (sic) seem to be selfish in
the establishment of cotton mills. Perhaps she knows that she is safely in the lead and don’t (sic) mind
helping other counties along, especially if the situation and environment appear inviting. Some of the largest
plants in the State have been built by Alamance people in counties other than Alamance. The Pilot Mill of
Raleigh is one of these. It was erected in 1892 by Capt. James N. Williamson and Mr. Wm. H. Williamson, of
Graham, and Mr. O. H. Foster, of Raleigh.” By the turn of the 20th century, there were 30 textile mills in
Alamance county.
Burlington Industries was begun in Burlington in 1923 under the leadership of Spencer Love, who took a
chance on the new fiber rayon. Burlington expanded by acquisition and new growth and became the world’s
largest textile company by 1962. As economic conditions changed, Burlington gradually went into decline
and was bankrupt by 2002. Divisions survive under International Textile Group ownership
From the turn of the century onward, the city of Burlington added hosiery mills to supplement the textile
business and, half a century later, attained the status of Hosiery Center of the South. The first mill was
established in 1896. In 1950, there were 54 hosiery manufacturers in Alamance County, and almost
everyone worked in a textile or hosiery-related business from the 1920s to the 1950s.
The present Alamance County textile companies are world-class international companies. Products include:
tapestries, automotive and industrial fabrics, indoor-outdoor fabrics, home décor and business interior
textiles, as well as several name brand hosiery operations.
Alamance County was an early leader in building and operating successful water-powered cotton mills in the
South. From 1832 to 1880, Alamance County men established 14 water-powered mills, with the following
eight located along the Haw River and its tributary creeks. These mills were:
1832-High Falls Mill by Ben, John and Wm. Trollinger, Hopedale. Jesse Gant was an investor but not an
active partner. The mill changed ownership several times over the years. In 1941 the present owners,
Copland Industries, purchased it. This mill has been in constant operation since 1832 making it the oldest
continuously operating textile operation in North Carolina.
1837-Alamance Cotton Factory by E.M. Holt and William Carrington on Alamance Creek several miles
upstream from the Haw River. Holt purchased Carrington’s shares in 1851. Alamance Plaids, famous
throughout the United States in the 1850s, were first produced here. They represented the first factory-dyed
cotton cloth south of the Potomac River. In 1926, John Schoffner and other investors purchased the mill and
village of Alamance. The mill was used for hosiery finishing until 1947. The name of the business was
changed to Standard Hosiery and relocated. A bronze plaque stands at the site today.
1844-Granite Mills - Ben Trollinger. The mill was built on a natural outcropping of granite along the Haw
River. The current town of Haw River developed there along the North Carolina Railroad where the bridge
was built to cross the river. Later, E. M. Holt purchased the mill in partnership with his son, Thomas. The
last operator, Cone Mills, finished corduroy there until closing. The buildings are now used for storage.
1848-Saxapahaw Cotton Factory by John Newlin and sons, Saxapahaw. E. M. Holt purchased the operation
for his sons-in-law. Later, the mill was purchased by Charles V. Sellers and B. Everett Jordan, and changed
to the production of full-fashion hosiery. Today, the mill has had a total renovation as apartments by John
Jordan and sons.
1868-Falls Neuse Manufacturing Company, Wilsonville by George Swepson and Gustave Rosenthal. In
1895, the name was changed to Virginia Mill. After 102 years of operation, the mill closed in 1970. The
building burned in 1989.
1869- Carolina Mill by J.H. and W.E. Holt, Carolina. Carolina is just up the Haw River from the High Falls
Mill. With 3,000 spindles and 60 looms, E. M. Holt and Sons doubled production. The building is currently
owned by Copland Industries.
1878-Altamahaw Cotton Mill by John Q. Gant and Berry Davidson, Altamahaw. In the early years it was a yarn
mill. By 1887, the mill produced cotton cloth. Later the main operations moved closer to Burlington adjacent
to the North Carolina Railroad. The Gant family business continues as Glen Raven Inc.
1880-Glencoe Mills, by James H. and William E. Holt, Glencoe. The mill was built on the Haw River north of
Carolina as one of the last water-powered mills built in Alamance County. A dye house built north of the mill
enabled the mill to dye, spin and weave colorful plaids. Glencoe Plaids were famous as a part of the
Alamance Plaids. When the Glencoe Mill closed in 1954, the village and mill buildings went into a deep
sleep. The owners did nothing for decades until the heirs deeded the property to Preservation North
Carolina in 1997. A restored mill village, office and company store are now open.
The Textile Heritage Museum, opened in 2004, is located in the building that housed the company office and
company store at Glencoe. www.textileheritage.org
Steam engines were originally developed in England and used successfully to pump water from iron mines
and later to power textile mills. After the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia featured a gigantic
Corliss Steam engine, mill owners gradually gained confidence that these could be used in North Carolina.
In 1882, Peter and Lafayette Holt and investor George Anthony built the Lafayette Mill, along East Webb Ave,
Burlington alongside the North Carolina Railroad. It was the first mill to operate by Corliss steam power.
Water-powered mills were now passé.
Lafayette also produced the first knitted fabric in Alamance County. The name changed to Aurora, Standard,
and later Kayser-Roth. The building is being torn down (2007).
Alamance County’s cotton mill men were renowned throughout North Carolina and were generous in
helping others set up cotton mills, including the Dukes who built five cotton mills centered in Durham, and in
establishing the Pilot Mill in Raleigh. The Raleigh News & Observer was generous in quotes. In an 1892
celebratory issue devoted to the industry, the editor said, “We wish every county in the State was an
Alamance.” In an 1895 article, similarly, “ The good old county of Alamance don’t (sic) seem to be selfish in
the establishment of cotton mills. Perhaps she knows that she is safely in the lead and don’t (sic) mind
helping other counties along, especially if the situation and environment appear inviting. Some of the largest
plants in the State have been built by Alamance people in counties other than Alamance. The Pilot Mill of
Raleigh is one of these. It was erected in 1892 by Capt. James N. Williamson and Mr. Wm. H. Williamson, of
Graham, and Mr. O. H. Foster, of Raleigh.” By the turn of the 20th century, there were 30 textile mills in
Alamance county.
Burlington Industries was begun in Burlington in 1923 under the leadership of Spencer Love, who took a
chance on the new fiber rayon. Burlington expanded by acquisition and new growth and became the world’s
largest textile company by 1962. As economic conditions changed, Burlington gradually went into decline
and was bankrupt by 2002. Divisions survive under International Textile Group ownership
From the turn of the century onward, the city of Burlington added hosiery mills to supplement the textile
business and, half a century later, attained the status of Hosiery Center of the South. The first mill was
established in 1896. In 1950, there were 54 hosiery manufacturers in Alamance County, and almost
everyone worked in a textile or hosiery-related business from the 1920s to the 1950s.
The present Alamance County textile companies are world-class international companies. Products include:
tapestries, automotive and industrial fabrics, indoor-outdoor fabrics, home décor and business interior
textiles, as well as several name brand hosiery operations.
Alamance County in 1893
showing prominent mill
locations located in
Alamance County Historical
Museum Hwy 62 South
showing prominent mill
locations located in
Alamance County Historical
Museum Hwy 62 South
High Falls Mill, built
by Ben Trollinger
1832
1941 Copland
Industries
by Ben Trollinger
1832
1941 Copland
Industries
Granite Mills, Ben
Trollinger, Haw River, NC
Trollinger, Haw River, NC
Saxapahaw Cotton
Factory,
John Newlin and Sons
Factory,
John Newlin and Sons
Falls Neuse Manufacturing
Company,
George Swepson and
Gustave Rosenthal
Company,
George Swepson and
Gustave Rosenthal
Glencoe Mills built by
James H. and William E.
Holt
James H. and William E.
Holt
Lafayette Mill,
Peter and Lafayette Holt
First Alamance mill operated by steam
power
Peter and Lafayette Holt
First Alamance mill operated by steam
power
Alamance Cotton Factory
EM Holt and William Carrington
on Alamance Creek, Alamance, NC
Source: UNC Archives Postcard collection
EM Holt and William Carrington
on Alamance Creek, Alamance, NC
Source: UNC Archives Postcard collection
Copland Industries at
High Falls,NC
January 2008
High Falls,NC
January 2008
Carolina Mill 1869
J.H. and W.E. Holt
Carolina, NC
View January 1, 2008
Photo: Gary Mock
J.H. and W.E. Holt
Carolina, NC
View January 1, 2008
Photo: Gary Mock
Original brickwork
2007
Source: Katherine
Barry
2007
Source: Katherine
Barry
Granite Finishing
1964
Ed McCauley
1964
Ed McCauley
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |