Mount Airy in Surry County, North Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

The Mill Worker

Photographed By Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 23, 2021

1. The Mill Worker Marker

Inscription. The Mill Worker represents the thousands of hardworking people who worked In the local mills to support their families. After the City's Incorporation in 1885, the Granite Quarry began production in 1889. The first furniture factory began working in 1895, and dozens of tobacco factories were in operation. As the tobacco industry changed, textiles began to take over the economy at the turn of the century, around 100 years later, most of the factory jobs had shifted overseas. The resilient people of Mount Airy adapted and found new uses for many of the Historic Mill Buildings still intact today.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers.

Location. 36° 30.088′ N, 80° 36.531′ W. Marker is in Mount Airy, North Carolina, in Surry County. Marker is on West Oak Street east of Market Street, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Mount Airy NC 27030, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Floyd Eugene "Flip" Rees (here, next to this marker); Donna Fargo (here, next to this marker); Ralph Epperson (a few steps from this marker); Fred Cockerham (a few steps from this marker); Tommy Jarrell (a

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few steps from this marker); The Whittling Wall (a few steps from this marker); The Whittler (within shouting distance of this marker); Leonidas Harold "L.H." Jones (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Mount Airy.

Also see . . . Mount Airy Museum of Regional History. Furniture Industry Furniture Industry With the coming of the railroad in 1888, the area’s booming lumber and woodworking industry evolved into a number of large furniture factories. These early plants are the Mount Airy Furniture Company, the National Furniture Company and the Mount Airy Mantel and Table Company. Founded in 1895 by J. A. Yokley, J.C. Hollingsworth, C. R. Merritt, A. G. Trotter and E.H. Kochtitzky, Mount Airy Furniture, formerly on Factory Street, manufactured medium grade oak chamber suites, bedsteads, bureaus, dressers, tables, pie safes and desks. Through the years, they expanded to include dining room and occasional chairs and in 1966, it merged with the Mount Airy Chair Company which was formed in 1921 by Bruce and James Yokley. Mount Airy Chair manufactured drawing room and dining room chairs, dining room furniture and bedroom chairs. On June 9, 1997, the Mount Airy Furniture was completely destroyed by a fire. (Submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed By Sandra Hughes Tidwell, October 23, 2021

2. The Mill Worker Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 16, 2021. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 108 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 6, 2021, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.