Textile Mill (Closed)
Augusta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The massive John P. King Mill was one of the last textile mills along the Augusta Canal still turning out fabric long after many others had gone quiet. When this photo was taken, the old brick mill was still in operation, making it a rare survivor in an industry that had nearly disappeared. 05-08
Built in 1884, the mill remained a major part of Augusta's textile industry for well over a century. After surviving bankruptcy in 2001, operations continued under new ownership for several more years before the machinery was finally shut down in the 2010s.
Fortunately, the landmark wasn't lost. Today the old mill has been beautifully restored as The Lofts at King Mill, giving one of Augusta's best-known industrial buildings a new life while preserving its historic character along the canal.
UPDATE: The restored mill is now home to apartments and businesses, proving that one of Augusta's most recognizable textile landmarks still has plenty of life left in it. 07-26
Confederate Powder Works Chimney
Augusta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The towering Confederate Powder Works Chimney is one of those landmarks that's almost impossible to ignore. Rising high above the Augusta Canal, it catches your eye long before you realize what it once belonged to. Today the chimney stands alone, but during the Civil War it was part of a sprawling gunpowder factory that stretched for nearly two miles along the canal. 05-08
Confederate Powder Works Front Facade
Augusta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Construction began in 1861 under Colonel George W. Rains, and by 1862 the works were producing gunpowder for the Confederate military. At its peak, the complex included 26 separate buildings where millions of pounds of gunpowder were manufactured before the war came to an end in 1865. A tragic explosion in 1864 claimed the lives of several workers, yet the factory continued operating until the Confederacy surrendered.
After the war, most of the buildings were demolished as the Augusta Canal was expanded, but the massive brick chimney was intentionally left standing as a memorial. It's believed to be the only surviving permanent structure built by the Confederate government, making it one of the South's most unusual historic landmarks.
Confederate Powder Works (Demolished)
Augusta, GA Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Today the chimney remains one of Augusta's best-known sights. Whether you stop to read the historical markers or simply admire it from the road, it's a fascinating reminder of the city's industrial and Civil War history. Even after more than 160 years, it still dominates the skyline much as it did when the powder works was in full operation.
UPDATE: The chimney is carefully preserved as part of the Augusta Canal National Heritage Area and remains one of the city's most photographed historic landmarks. 07-26
Coca-Cola Plant (Closed)
Gastonia, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Gastonia, NC is home to this former Coca-Cola bottling plant. The carved signs in front have been shaved off. The one shown here is located on the side of the building. Many thanks to Richard Weiss for info. 07-08
Coca-Cola first came to Gastonia in 1907, and the company eventually built this larger bottling plant on West Franklin Avenue as business continued to grow. Over the years, several additions were made to the building before bottling operations moved elsewhere in the 1980s, leaving the old plant behind.
Coca-Cola Plant
Gastonia, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
For years the building sat quietly, serving a variety of industrial uses while downtown changed around it. Fortunately, it escaped demolition. Today the old bottling plant is being brought back to life as part of Gastonia's FUSE District. The historic brick building has been transformed into loft apartments known as The Dillinger, complete with restaurants and other businesses, giving this longtime landmark a new future.
UPDATE: Although the original Coca-Cola name was removed from the facade years ago, the building remains one of Gastonia's most recognizable industrial survivors and continues its rebirth as part of the city's downtown revitalization. 07-26
Fleming Grocery (Closed)
Essex, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
Tucked away in the tiny community of Essex sits Fleming Grocery, an old country store that looks like it has been waiting for the next customer for years. The weathered building and faded sign are the kind of roadside sights that seem to disappear a little more with each passing year. 07-08
Like so many rural neighborhood stores, Fleming Grocery was once a place where locals could stop for groceries, pick up a cold drink, and catch up on the latest news. As larger stores and changing shopping habits took over, small crossroads markets like this gradually faded away.
Today the building sits vacant, but enough remains to remind travelers of its past. If you happen to be wandering the back roads of northeastern North Carolina, it's one of those quiet little roadside relics that's worth slowing down to notice.
UPDATE: The old store still stands abandoned, with its weathered exterior continuing to mark what was once an important gathering place for the Essex community. 07-26
Tomlinson Furniture
High Point, NC Photo courtesy Richard Weiss
The giant Tomlinson Furniture smokestack has watched over High Point for generations. Even though the factory is no longer turning out furniture, those familiar letters remain one of the city's best-known landmarks. 02-09
Founded in 1900, Tomlinson grew from a small chair company into one of High Point's leading furniture manufacturers. Over the years the factory expanded into a sprawling complex, helping establish the city as the Furniture Capital of the World.
When manufacturing ended in the early 1980s, the old factory found a new purpose instead of the wrecking ball. The buildings were carefully restored as Market Square, preserving the original brickwork, hardwood floors, and heavy timber beams while becoming one of the premier destinations during the twice-yearly High Point Market.
UPDATE: Today the old Tomlinson factory remains one of downtown High Point's signature landmarks, and the towering smokestack continues to overlook the city just as it has for more than a century. 07-26
Wayne Feeds (Closed)
Kernersville, NC Photo courtesy Tony Craig
Here's an old sign at an old feed store in Kernersville, NC. In fact, the farmer's supply now appears to be an artist's place. Many thanks to Tony Craig for info. 11-10
The faded Wayne Feeds sign is one of those landmarks that catches your eye as you roll through downtown Kernersville. Sitting beside the old railroad tracks, it's a reminder of the days when freight cars, grain, and farm supplies kept small-town businesses humming.
The building traces its roots to the old Kernersville Roller Mills and later became home to Wayne Feeds, a familiar name to generations of farmers across the Carolinas. Located just across from the historic depot, it was perfectly positioned to receive grain by rail and serve the surrounding farming community.
The milling days are long gone, but the building survived while many others like it disappeared. Although the interior has found new uses over the years, the big Wayne Feeds sign still gives the property its unmistakable identity and remains one of the most recognizable pieces of downtown Kernersville's industrial past.
UPDATE: The building remains standing today. 07-26
Textile Mill (Closed)
Confederate Powder Works Chimney
Confederate Powder Works Front Facade
Coca-Cola Plant (Closed)
Coca-Cola Plant
Fleming Grocery (Closed)
Tomlinson Furniture
Wayne Feeds (Closed)
