Union Bleachery

Union Bleachery. . The Union Bleaching and Finishing Company began operations in 1903. It was the second custom finishing company in S.C. It was one of four original plants worldwide licensed to use the Sandfordizing Process, which reduced shrinkage of cotton cloth. In 1922, the company was re-chartered as Union Bleachery and had a capacity of 2 million yards per week, making it the largest finishing plant in the South. John White Arrington (1866-1938), who became company president in 1906, was key to the growth of both the plant and the surrounding mill village. The first 35 of 153 homes were built along Arrington and Stephenson Avenues for the employees of the plant who came from surrounding rural sections and the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The mill owners provided a school, Baptist and Methodist churches, a pasture and barn for farm animals, and a community garden for the workers and their families. A school, church, and homes were also provided by the mill for the black community living near the Bleachery. In 1923, mill owners added a community building with a gymnasium and park. Employees played in the Textile Baseball and Basketball Leagues. There was also a nine-hole golf course with black-oiled sand greens., In 1937, Jess “Doc” Brown was hired as Recreational Director for the community. In 1938, he founded and became editor of The Commentator, a weekly newspaper for the Bleachery community., Cone Mills acquired ownership of the mill and village in 1947. The plant continued operation under the name Union lBeachery. American Fast Print (U.S. Finishing) bought the mill in 1984. Operations continued until a major fire destroyed a large part of the plant in 2003.