Greenville in Greenville County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Camperdown

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 14, 2022

1. Camperdown Marker

Inscription. In early 1874, Oscar Sampson (1828-1904) and George Hall chartered Camperdown #1 mill. By June 1874, it was in full operation in the Vardry McBee brain mill. Camperdown #2 was in full operation by December 1875. By 1880, the Camperdown spinning mills employed 260 workers and were the second largest mill in South Carolina next to the Graniteville Mill in Aiken County. The Camperdown Mills were the first of the modern textile mills to be opened within the corporate boundaries of the city of Greenville. The mills were also the first in Greenville County whose principal purpose was to manufacture and export cotton yarns to other areas of the United States. The mill property included what is known today as Falls Park adjacent to Main Street in downtown Greenville. Camperdown #1 ran on water power while Camperdown #2 used both water and steam, at 324 horsepower generated by the falls and the shoals of the Reedy River. Originally the mills manufactured hosiery yarns and thread. In 1904, looms were added to both mills to produce gingham and plaid cotton fabrics. The Camperdown Mill Village had 199 mill houses with a population

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

around 1500 and included two churches, a gymnasium, a boarding house, and an elementary school. The mill houses were built along Choice, Hunt, Webster, Lois, and Cleveland streets. Mill employees played in the Textile Baseball and Basketball Leagues. Players practiced in the local Camperdown Gym. In 1947, the mill, with 12,673 spindles and 432 looms, employed 365 workers. A victim of international trade, it closed in 1956. It was deconstructed in 1959. The foundation of mill #1 remains today in the Mill Garden at Falls Park. In 1962, Choice Street was renamed Camperdown Way to remember the site of the former mill.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Greenville Textile Heritage series list. A significant historical month for this entry is June 1874.

Location. 34° 52.061′ N, 82° 25.601′ W. Marker is in Greenville, South Carolina, in Greenville County. It is on Ravenel Street west of Smythe Street, on the right when traveling west. Marker located in Greenville Textile Heritage Park. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Greenville SC 29611,

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 14, 2022

2. Camperdown Marker

Marker is third from left.

United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Dunean (within shouting distance of this marker); Judson (within shouting distance of this marker); Slater (within shouting distance of this marker); American Spinning (within shouting distance of this marker); Poinsett (within shouting distance of this marker); Poe Mill (within shouting distance of this marker); Piedmont (within shouting distance of this marker); Parker High School (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Greenville.

Related markers. Click

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 14, 2022

3. Camperdown Marker

Camperdown marker is the middle marker.

here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Greenville Textile Heritage Park. (Submitted on May 28, 2022.)

Greenville Textile Heritage Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tom Bosse, May 14, 2022

4. Greenville Textile Heritage Park

Credits. This page was last revised on May 30, 2022. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 28 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 28, 2022, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.