Spillway Dam at Big Elkin Creek
by Chad Meyer
Title
Spillway Dam at Big Elkin Creek
Artist
Chad Meyer
Medium
Photograph - Digital Photography
Description
A spillway dam located along the Elkin & Alleghany rail trail in Elkin, North Carolina. This was the home of the Elkin Creek Woolen Mill which later became the
Chatham Manufacturing Company
In 1877, Richard Gwyn and Alexander Chatham took over operation of the mill. They added a textile mill to the grist and carding mill and named the operation the “Elkin Valley Woolen Mill”. In the first years of the woolen mill operation, it employed only four people. In 1878
In 1890 the railroad arrived in Elkin. The North Carolina Railroad ran along the Yadkin River, and Gwyn and Chatham quickly made plans to move their factory to be alongside it. That same year, Thomas Gwyn sold his interest to Alexander Chatham and the company was renamed the Chatham Manufacturing Company. The new mill no longer needed water power, but instead used steam engines to power generators. The mill made only yarn until 1893 when they began to produce fabrics as well. That was the year that they made the first Chatham Blanket. In 1895 the company started making wool suiting fabric and brought a tailor from New York to make suits.
The mill was destroyed when the Big Elkin Creek flooded in 1916
Uploaded
November 2nd, 2023
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