Athens in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Mill Products

Fabric

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 19, 2021

1. Mill Products Marker

Inscription. During 145 years of operation the riverside textile mills produced a diversity of fabrics. Materials ranged from sturdy wool and cotton cloth for Confederate uniforms to lightweight gauze for modern bandages.

The Athens Manufacturing Company opened the Cotton and Wool Factory in 1832, spinning threads and weaving fabric for the family and home. These fabrics included osnaburgs for grain sacks, upholstery, draperies, and slave clothing, stripes for shirts and dresses, strechy woolen kersey for socks, and bed ticking. Earlier production of greiges for shade cloth and cotton print material for clothes changed to tent canvas for WWI soldiers, and rayon for 1930s women's dresses. Operating as the Chicopee Mill from 1950-79, the last textiles produced were bandage gauze and backing material for wallpaper and box springs.

(captions)
1832 Athens Factory receipt from 1st year of operation for homespun textile use in clothing.

The Confederate soldiers from Athens were well clothed. Local women outfitted their men by sewing uniforms out of wool and cotton material produced in the Athens Factory

The Daisy Check gingham

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fabric won gold medals at the 1876 New Orleans Exposition and the weaving mill upstream became known as the "Check Factory"

Chicopee Mill was a subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson and the Athens factory made bandage gaze for their Band-aids.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • War, US Civil • War, World I. A significant historical year for this entry is 1832.

Location. 33° 57.473′ N, 83° 21.967′ W. Marker is in Athens, Georgia, in Athens-Clarke County. It can be reached from East Broad Street east of First Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1170 E Broad St, Athens GA 30601, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Classic City Area

and in the Piedmont.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, June 19, 2021

2. Mill Products Marker

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: A different marker also named Mill Products (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Mill Products (a few steps from this marker); Chapters in Athens Heritage (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Mill Products (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Chapters in Athens Heritage (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Chapters in Athens Heritage (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Chapters in Athens Heritage (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Chapters in Athens Heritage (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Athens.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 335 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 18, 2022, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.