Revolution Mill Studios

I honestly did not know how important the textile industry was in the Carolina’s as well as Greensboro. Being unfamiliar with the history of Greensboro, it is fascinating to know that the Cone Mill Corporation was the world leader in textile manufacturing of corduroy, flannel, denim, etc during the 20th century. Two brothers, Moses and Ceasar Cone, started becoming interested in the textile empire traveling back in forth from Baltimore to the south and seeing the rapid expansion of manufacturing. They quickly partnered with C.E. Graham in Asheville in 1887. Knowing that southern manufactures needed local selling agents in order to compete with the northern mills. In 1890, Moses Cone established a firm and located it in Greensboro to take advantage of its proximity to cotton field, gins, warehouse and railroads. In 1895, the mill was built on the North Buffalo Creek adjacent to the cotton fields, named Proximity Cotton Mill. Life long friends, Emanuel and Herman Sternberger were convinced in 1898 to establish a flannel mill, named Revolution Mill. After the establishment, in the 1900’s, other mills were formed under the Cone’s name. By the 1930’s, the mill was the largest producer of flannel in the world. During the early 1900’s, Revolution Mill began an expansion project to double the size of the mill as well as adding wings. The focus of the expansion was to make it utilitarian and make it safe and efficient in aesthetics. In 1982, Revolution Mill closed and was sold to Revolution Associates for offices and apartments. It went through several sells until Revolution Mill Studio bought it in 2003. A five million dollar renovation began and throughout time, with the help of the Historic Preservation tax credits, the project reached to 40 million dollars in renovations. 97 businesses consist in the 250,000 sq ft of the 600,000 sq ft space ranging from all different kinds of business. Original maple floors, large windows, clearstories, and high ceilings are parts of the past that still exist in the mill. When completed, Revolution Mill will serve again as an economic center for the neighborhood. After doing research, I am excited to see what will happen as we visit it tomorrow.