Dublin Core
Title
Cypress Mill
Subject
Industry
Description
The Cypress Mill was located on Cypress Creek in Florence. The Cypress Mill was rebuilt from the old skeletal remains of the pre-Civil War cotton mill known as the Globe Factory. After Union Colonel Florence M. Cornyn of the 10th Missouri Calvary set the mill ablaze in 1863, it took several years for James Martin to get Cypress Mill back up and running. He advertised for at least forty able-bodied men to help in the rebuild of one of the old Globe Factory factories in 1866. But it was not until 1873 that operations were commenced at Cypress Mills, after the heirs of James Martin conveyed all their interest to the Cypress Mills Corporation in 1873. At the commencement of operation, Cypress Mill had a capital stock of seventy-five thousand dollars, 3,000 spindles, 60 looms. 50 employees, and consumed about 600 bales of cotton annually. The mill used hydropower from a thirty-five foot dam on Cypress Creek and that dam powered the three-story facility that sat at the edge of the Cypress.
Cypress Mills Company purchased about 1,500 acres for their workers and built a mill village for them on the tract of land. Just over fifteen years later, when Cypress Mill was sold to the Cherry brothers in 1889, Cypress Mills production was drastically cut, and many of the employees followed the Cherry brothers when they relocated the mill in Barton, Alabama. In 1892, Cypress Mill had 2,500 spindles, 60 looms, and 9 cards. By 1893, Cypress Mill had ceased production and closed its doors.
Cypress Mills Company purchased about 1,500 acres for their workers and built a mill village for them on the tract of land. Just over fifteen years later, when Cypress Mill was sold to the Cherry brothers in 1889, Cypress Mills production was drastically cut, and many of the employees followed the Cherry brothers when they relocated the mill in Barton, Alabama. In 1892, Cypress Mill had 2,500 spindles, 60 looms, and 9 cards. By 1893, Cypress Mill had ceased production and closed its doors.
Creator
Matthew C. Fesmire, University of North Alabama
Source
Text Sources:
McDonald, William Lindsey. "A Walk Through the Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2003.
Wilhelm, Dwight M. "A History of the Cotton Textile Industry of Alabama 1809 to 1950." Montgomery: Privately Published, 1950.
McDonald, William Lindsey. "Remembering Sweetwater: The Mansions, The Mills, The People." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2002.
Picture Source:
UNA Archives & Special Collection. William L. McDonald Collection. “Cypress Mill.” Florence, Alabama. Box 12: Florence Industry, 12-03.
McDonald, William Lindsey. "A Walk Through the Past: People and Places of Florence and Lauderdale County, Alabama." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2003.
Wilhelm, Dwight M. "A History of the Cotton Textile Industry of Alabama 1809 to 1950." Montgomery: Privately Published, 1950.
McDonald, William Lindsey. "Remembering Sweetwater: The Mansions, The Mills, The People." Killen, Ala., Bluewater Publications, 2002.
Picture Source:
UNA Archives & Special Collection. William L. McDonald Collection. “Cypress Mill.” Florence, Alabama. Box 12: Florence Industry, 12-03.
Publisher
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Date
Mid Nineteenth-Late Nineteenth Century
Format
Image