Startex in Wellford in Spartanburg County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Tucapau Mill

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 18, 2025

1. Tucapau Mill Marker, Side One

Inscription. Tucapau Mill opened in 1896 on the Middle Tyger River at Penney Shoals by investors including John Montgomery. The mill made cotton cloth using a water wheel powered by the Middle Tyger River. In 1902 a dam and power plant were built at Berry Shoals. A village built by the mill at first included a store, a school, and 33 houses. Later, 350 houses filled the village. A Baptist, Methodist, and Church of God all were built. An elementary school was constructed in 1900.

The mill village was self-sufficient, with a mill store, post office, movie theater, café, churches, and three-story community building. Organizations included a Textile League baseball team, Masonic Lodge, and Scouts. Following the Depression and labor strikes of the 1930s, Walter Montgomery bought the mill in 1936 and changed the name to Startex. At its height in the 1960s the mill employed 1,100 workers. Demand for U.S. textiles declined and the mill closed in 1997.

Erected 2016 by Department of Archives and History. Sponsored by Startex-Tucapau Preservation Foundation. (Marker Number 42-31.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.

Location. 34° 56.189′

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

N, 82° 5.658′ W. Marker is in Wellford, South Carolina, in Spartanburg County. It is in Startex. It is at the intersection of Tucapau Road (Local Route 42-63) and Spartanburg Road, on the right when traveling north on Tucapau Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 395 Tucapau Rd, Wellford SC 29385, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Upstate

and in the Greater Greenville-Spartanburg Area. It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. 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 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 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: In Honor of the Students of (approx. 1½ miles away); District Five War Memorial (approx. 1.9 miles away); Kevin Earl Carper (approx. 2.9 miles away); Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery (approx. 3½ miles away); Edward Bomar (approx. 3½ miles away); Joshua Hawkins (approx. 3½ miles away); Nazareth Church (approx. 4.2 miles away); Nazareth Church Stone Marker (approx. 4½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wellford.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Prince (was approx. 2.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . Our History. The history page at the Startex-Tucapau Preservation Foundation website. This page has a few period photographs. Excerpt:

The first drayman was Mr. Boyd Smith, who delivered groceries in a wheel-barrow. He was a small lad then, I say then, because I thought perhaps, you folks who see him now up at the scales at three hundred pounds, would
Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 18, 2025

2. Tucapau Mill Marker, Side Two
hardly believe he could have accomplished so strenuous a task. He also walked to Wellford, two and a half miles to carry mail, until a hack line was put in by Mr. Daniel Barry and Sons, who also carried the mail and one son Charles D. Barry Still carries it to Wellford every day. The first market was opened by Mr. Daniel Barry, in what is known as the shoe shop.

(Submitted on June 16, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.)

Tucapau Mill Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, May 18, 2025

3. Tucapau Mill Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 16, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 242 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 16, 2025, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.