Pepperell Manufacturing Company

This memorial is dedicated to the memory of the pioneer men and women who came to Pepperell to begin a new way of life.

Russell Leonard, Treasurer of Pepperell Manufacturing Company located in Biddeford, Maine, traveled to Opelika in late 1925 with a vision to open the first Pepperell Mill located in the South. The people of Opelika made this possible.

Pepperell, at the time, was already a leader in textile manufacturing. Homer M. Carter, General Manager (1927 – 1961), led the way to make the mill a success even during the most devastating depression in U.S. history, During World War II, Pepperell received the Army-Navy "E" Award, a war time honor to recognize companies that consistently met high standards of quality and quantity in the production of war equipment.

Behind that Pepperell team was one of the great histories of American business; it was one of the largest and strongest corporations in the textile field. The quality products produced by those dedicated cotton mill workers were found in every aspect of American life. Pepperell remained an important factor in the progress and well-being of Opelika.

In memory of all those who came, endured and gave their best to make a new way of life....the spirit of those Americans lives on forever.

On March 12, 2013, the mill was destroyed by fire.

[Second plaque] , This monument was made possible by the contributions and support of friends and families of the Pepperell Village and is dedicated to the memory of the employees of Pepperell Manufacturing Company.

Memory Of Oliver and Nell Aldridge . Memory Of Oscar and Julia Pitts , Memory Of Catherine and Euther Baker and Ada Baker . Memory Of James E. Sanders, Sr. , Memory Of Clifford and Zelma Moore . & Ruth Sharpe Sanders , Memory Of Lester and Annie Warnock . Memory Of Leacy Dempsey Moore , Honor Of A.M. Buchanan, III and B.J. Armistead, Sr. . and James H. Dempsey , Memory Of Maurine Crabtree Family . Memory Of Jack Simpkins , Memory Of John and Clara Crawford . M. L. and Nellie Smallwood Family , Memory Of Owen and Mattie Smith , Memory Of Carl West Dubose Family . Family Of Gene and Ora Faulkner , Hurling and Mary Dupre . Memory Of Garfield and Nola Sweatman , Larry Elliot , Jerry Gaylor . J.T., Sr. and Sara Taunton , Memory Of Flora, Annie Mae and Wilburn P. Griffin, . J.T., Jr. and Nancy Pitt Taunton , Malcolm and Effie James . Memory Of Jim and Gladys Thomaston , Memory Of Bobby Haynie . and Raymond and Cleo Knight , Memory Of Dewey and Effie Hodge . Memory Of T.A. and Durnell Reynolds , Memory Of Florene Buckingham . Harold and Jean Turner , Maxine Blackmon Jones . Honor Of Ruby Worthington; Memory Of Lewis Worthington , James and Loretta Young Lee . and A.L. and Laura Veasey , Memory Of Winford and Nett McClain . Memory Of M.M. Williams Family , Memory Of A.L. Maloy . Memory Of Robert (Bob) Price , and B.H. Thomaston Family . Memory Of Douglas, Sr. and Mary Helen Wooddy , Memory Of Marvin McCormick , Memory Of Paul and Annie Ruth Young . Memory Of Lewis H. Worthington and Willis G. and Eula Prophitt , Paul Mezick . Bobby and Margaret Worthington , Sylvia and Roger Mezick . Memory Of Earl and Ruth Sanders , Ann O. Mims . Memory Of John W. and Lowella H. Worthington and Coach Harold Turner , Memory Of M.O. and Ethel Gilmer , Memory Of Ernest Parker , and Melvin W. and Freddie B. Nix ,

Special Appreciation

Jane Worthington Opelika Historic Preservation Society , Buddy Griffin Charter Foundation , Roy Granger Pepperell Kids , Darryl Saucier Boyd Hodge , Opelika City Council Museum Of East Alabama , Dozier Smith T. Bill Trant