Spinning in an unidentified Greenville mill | Photo provided by Greenville County Historical Society
We learned a lot from the 2019 documentary “Building an Empire, the Textile Center of the World.”
“The story of Greenville’s textile crescent is the story of audacious men.” The textile industry in Greenville was made up of people who didn’t know much about it, but were fascinated by the potential. All different kinds of people — from bankers to farmers — worked together to build a local industry.
1847: William Gregg opened a textile mill in Aiken and traveled around to tell people about the potential of this industry for the South.
1870s: Three men from Boston came down to open a cotton spinning operation in an old saw mill that sat on the Reedy River (right in the middle of where downtown is now). It was so successful, they opened another mill across the river — the Camperdown mill.
1880s: Ellison Adger Smyth opened Pelzer Manufacturing Company along the Saluda River in Anderson County. Smyth’s $4,000 investment returned $9 million in revenue. Smyth also founded The Poinsett Club + became the first president of Chicora College.
1882: Huguenot Mill was was the first mill in the South to make gingham.
Camperdown Mill | Photo provided by Greenville County Historical Society
1897: Poe Mill was constructed and became very successful — the mill was designed by Joseph E. Sirrine + began operations with 10,000 spindles, 300 looms, and 400 workers.
1902: Woodside Mill opened, and became the largest textile mill under one roof in the world.
By 1903, Greenville had eight cotton mills + one bleachery finishing company, forming Greenville’s textile crescent. The industry continued to flourish and mills increased their capacity.
Want the full story? The documentary is just 57 minutes.
Duke’s Hot Tomato Summer | Saturday, July 19-Sunday, July 27 | 12-12 a.m. | Various locations, Greenville | Free | Local restaurants showcase Duke’s Mayo with its bff, a summer tomato.
Dance2Fit with Karly | 9-10 a.m. | Camperdown Plaza, Greenville | Free | Move and groove at this community fitness class.
Upcountry Summer Market | 10 a.m.-2 p.m. | Upcountry History Museum, Greenville | $0+ | Shop handcrafted treasures, enjoy family-friendly fun, and explore unique exhibits at the Upcountry History Museum’s sunny summer market.
All Around Artsy’s Art & Fashion Stall Grand Opening Party | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | WestSide Market, Greenville | Free | meet the artist, sip champagne at the ribbon cutting, and shop this artist’s whimsical art, fashion, and viral designs.
Greenville Comedy Marathon: Literary Legends Family Show | Saturday, July 19, Saturday, July 19 | Times vary | Coffee Underground, Greenville | $35 | Laugh all day long from family-friendly daytime improv to late-night finales.
GVL Roller Derby Double Header | 4-9 p.m. | The Pavilion, Taylors | $12 | Catch the Apex Predators and Bridge Trolls in action.
GVL Vintage Night Market | 5-9 p.m. | Camperdown Plaza, Greenville | Free | Shop one-of-a-kind vintage, sneakers, jewelry, and more under the stars.
Sunday, July 20
Noble Dog’s Royal Pet Market | 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. | Hampton Station, Greenville | Free | Enjoy a pet-friendly bash featuring adoptable pups, food trucks, games, and tail-wagging fun for the whole family.
Wednesday, July 23
Silent Book Club | 6:30-8 p.m. | The People’s Tap, Greenville | Free | Settle in with a beverage and a cozy spot for an hour of silent reading.
Saturday, July 26
Tomato Sandwich Taste-Off | 9-11:30 a.m. | Trailblazer Park, Travelers Rest | $27 | Local chefs compete to win the trophy and make the best tomato sandwich.
The Swamp Rabbits mascot Stomper is up for re-election. He was last year’s runner-up in the ECHL’s race for mascot of the year, and in 2025 we want to help him go all the way. (FOX Carolina)
Real Estate
Get ready for new neighbors. The Greenville-Anderson-Greer area ranked No. 16 on Construction Coverage’s list of mid-sized metro areas building the most homes. The study determined our region is adding 20.3 new housing units for every 1,000 existing homes.
Gallery
Greenville News shared photos of the Community Choice Awards ceremony held earlier this week — congrats to all the local winners, including best clothing designer Caroline Soma + best urgent care and walk-in clinic Prisma Health.
Biz
In 1998, the most common job in our state was a retail salesperson, according to a recent study. Nowadays, the most common job is… a retail salesperson. Must be because our small business scene is so special. (Visual Capitalist)
Drink
According to a sommelier, these are the best wines to get from Trader Joe’s this summer — all of which come at or under $20. Pair a bottle with some cheese from local business The Cheese Wheel, and you’ve got yourself a perfect summer picnic. (Business Insider)
Trending
The secret is out. Starbucks launched a “secret menu” option on its app, including items like “Dragonfruit glow up.” The coffee chain also launched a contest for customers to submit their own customized drink. Who needs a secret menu when we’ve got so many local shops to sip from?
The Buy
A pair of Allbirds sneakers that are marked down to under $60. The kicks feature a breathable and naturally moisture-wicking merino wool and a re-engineered design to deliver a wider toe box for a comfier fit.
The fun doesn’t have to end here. After reading the newsletter, head over to our games page. Games refresh with new challenges every day at 6 a.m. from crossword puzzle to Sudoku to themed word search.
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