Madison in Jefferson County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Eagle Cotton Mill / Gas, Coal & Tobacco

Streetside History

Eagle Cotton Mill Marker (<i>west side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2021

1. Eagle Cotton Mill Marker (west side)

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Eagle Cotton Mill
[west side]Built in 1884 for $100,000, this was the most modern mill of its time, complete with its own power plant. Electric lamps illuminated 300 workers at 240 looms spinning thread and weaving cotton cloth. The Johnson family, which had controlling interest, also managed a starch factory on the west side of Madison's riverfront.

Gas, Coal & Tobacco
[east side]Barges unloaded coal for the furnaces at the gas company on First & Walnut. In addition to producing coke for home heating and gas for lighting, the ovens provided a warm place for local lads sledding down the streets in the winter. Five tobacco warehouses lined the riverfront, supporting farmers from the 1850s until the 1990s.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 38° 43.958′ N, 85° 22.532′ W. Marker is in Madison, Indiana, in Jefferson County. Marker is on East Vaughn Drive just east of Walnut Street,

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on the right when traveling east. Marker is located beside the sidewalk along the Madison Riverwalk. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Madison IN 47250, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Madison Historic District (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Bill Cantrell Memorial Race Course (approx. 0.2 miles away); John Paul / Early History (approx. 0.2 miles away); Eagle Cotton Mill (approx. 0.2 miles away); First Chartered Bank in Indiana (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Courthouse Treasure (approx. ¼ mile away); Jefferson County (Indiana ) Civil War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); This Shell Fired into Vicksburg (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Madison.

Regarding Eagle Cotton Mill / Gas, Coal & Tobacco. The Eagle Cotton Mill contributes to the historic significance of the Madison Historic District, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and designated a National Historic Landmark. National Register of Historic Places #73000020.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Streetside History • Madison, Indiana

Also see . . .
1. Eagle Cotton Mill. The Eagle Mill employed over 400 workers who produced low-grade cotton yardage, tobacco canvas, and twine. The company sold

Gas, Coal & Tobacco Marker (<i>east side</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2021

2. Gas, Coal & Tobacco Marker (east side)

its milling equipment in 1932, shifting its focus to making shoes and later canvas baskets. Meese Incorporated, a Madison company that made canvas containers before moving to plastics, occupied the building from 1938 until the 1980s. (Submitted on September 10, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. Cotton Mill. Riverton will invest more than $21 million to transform the Eagle Cotton Mill building into a new 85 room Fairfield hotel. Additionally, the repurposed property will feature a conference center, guest amenities, and enhanced outdoor spaces with views of the Ohio River. With construction expected to be complete in spring 2021, this project highlights a continued investment in the city’s historic district. (Submitted on September 10, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Marker detail: Eagle Cotton Mill image. Click for full size.

3. Marker detail: Eagle Cotton Mill

Marker detail: Eagle Cotton Mill Weaving Room image. Click for full size.

4. Marker detail: Eagle Cotton Mill Weaving Room

Marker detail: Vaughn Drive at Jefferson Street, circa 1930 image. Click for full size.

5. Marker detail: Vaughn Drive at Jefferson Street, circa 1930

Marker detail: Tobacco Processing image. Click for full size.

6. Marker detail: Tobacco Processing

7. Marker detail: Tobacco Processing

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2021

8. Eagle Cotton Mill Marker (west side)

(looking east along Vaughn Drive • Ohio River on right)

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 26, 2021

9. Gas, Coal & Tobacco Marker (east side)

(looking west along Vaughn Drive • Walnut Street intersection in background)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2021. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 561 times since then and 222 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on September 10, 2021, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.