Pacolet Mills in Georgia
The Pacolet Mills Company had textile mills in both South Carolina and Georgia. Pacolet Mills No. 1 and Number 2 were built at what was then Trough Shoals, South Carolina in 1883. Later in 1891, mill number three (The Old Mill) was completed. The town name of Trough Shoals was changed to Pacolet Mills.
The mills at Pacolet in South Carolina were so successful that the Company decided to expand into Georgia. They bought a tract of land near Gainesville in north Georgia. This became known as the town of New Holland and a mill was built here in 1902. It was known as Mill No. 4. Since it was built by the Pacolet Manufacturing Company, it was also known as Pacolet Mills No. 4 even though it was not in the town of Pacolet Mills, SC. This name has often caused confusion over the years.
Pacolet Mills No. 1 and 2 were destroyed in the Great Pacolet Flood of 1903. To replace them, Pacolet Mills No. 5 (The New Mill) was built and opened in 1907. Sometime later, an additional plant, Pacolet Mills No. 6, was built in New Holland. This mill name has also added to the confusion.
Milliken & Company still operate a textile plant in Georgia under the name New Holland Mill Mfg. Plant Div. It currently has about 115 employees.
In a tragic coincidence, the Pacolet Mills in new Holland were struck by destructive tornadoes 33 years apart. Read the story at New Holland Tornadoes.
I have recently been contacted by the niece of the first industrial nurse hired at the Pacolet Mills in New Holland. You can read her interesting story at Margaret Currie.
This web site has been started as a public service to share the story of Pacolet.
