Rocky Mount Mills (Rocky Mount, N.C.)

Rocky Mount Mills, located in Rocky Mount, N.C., was one of the first cotton mills constructed in the state of North Carolina, dating back to 1816. From 1825 to 1883, the Battle family maintained ownership of the mill. As the southern cotton industry grew after the Civil War, the cotton mill experienced rapid growth. The company also supported a residential village for employees, which was eventually incorporated into the city of Rocky Mount in the 1920s. The mill was a major supplier of cotton yarn to the United States Army during World War II. The general decline in southern textile industry beginning in the 1970s eventually impacted Rocky Mount Mills, and the mill closed its doors in 1996.

From the description of Rocky Mount Mills records, 1804-2007. WorldCat record id: 70679177

Rocky Mount Mills was one of the first cotton mills constructed in the state of North Carolina. It was one of the few antebellum industrial complexes in the South devoted to the production of cotton, as most cotton during this time was exported in raw form to the North and to Britain. Its origins date back to 1816, when Joel Battle, Peter Evans, Henry Donaldson, and John Hogan began buying land around the falls of the Tar River, near present-day Rocky Mount, N.C. The original mill was constructed between 1816 and 1817 and was expanded in 1819. The mill was in full operation by 1820. By 1825, Joel Battle was the sole owner of the mill, the other founders having sold their stakes in the operation in the previous years. Ownership of the mill would remain in the Battle family until 1883.

Originally, Rocky Mount Mills consisted of a grist mill, a saw mill, and a cotton gin, in addition to the cotton mill. As the southern cotton industry grew after the Civil War, the cotton mill experienced rapid growth and the other operations were de-emphasized and eventually discontinued. Rocky Mount Mills was an early adopter of new technologies, installing electrical lights and automatic sprinklers in 1889, and installing one of the first steam turbines in North Carolina in 1911. The company also supported a residential village for employees, which was eventually incorporated into the city of Rocky Mount in the 1920s. The mill was a major supplier of cotton yarn to the United States Army during World War II. The general decline in southern textile industry beginning in the 1970s eventually impacted Rocky Mount Mills, and the mill closed its doors in 1996.

• 1816: Joel Battle, Peter Evans, Henry Donaldson, and John Hogan begin buying land around the falls of the Tar River.
• 1816 - 1817 : Original mill constructed.
• 1817: John Hogan sells his share of the mill to Joel Battle.
• 1821: Peter Evans sells his share of the mill to Henry Donaldson.
• 1825: Henry Donaldson sells his share of the mill to Joel Battle. Joel Battle now the sole owner of the mill.
• 1829: Joel Battle dies. Mill operated by his children as Battle and Bros., led by William H. Battle.
• 1838: William H. Battle and others attempt to organize a corporation to take over operation of the mill. Charter granted by the North Carolina legislature, but cannot raise enough capital.
• 1847: Mill sold to James Smith Battle, cousin of William H. Battle, and his son, William S. Battle.
• 1857: James Smith Battle dies. William S. Battle owns and operates mill with his son, James S. Battle.
• 1874: Charter granted by North Carolina legislature.
• 1883 - 1886 : Reorganization of mill. William S. Battle assigns stock to trustees, ending Battle family ownership of mill. Thomas H. Battle, nephew of William S. Battle, elected secretary of new corporation. James H. Ruffin named treasurer and superintendent of mill operations.
• 1888: Thomas H. Battle elected president of corporation.
• 1898: James H. Ruffin retires. Thomas H. Battle named treasurer and takes over administrative control of mill.
• 1917: Turner Battle Bunn, cousin of Thomas H. Battle, named secretary of corporation.
• 1933: Hyman L. Battle, son of Thomas H. Battle, named treasurer-manager of corporation.
• 1991: John M. Mebane named president of corporation.

• 1816 - 1817 : Original mill constructed.
• 1819: Mill expanded.
• 1863: Mill burned by Union Army during the United States Civil War. At time, mill has 2,000 spindles.
• 1865: New brick mill building constructed. Contains 28 looms for weaving cloth and 1,600 spindles for spinning yarn. Can produce 1,200 yards of shirting and 500 pounds of cotton yarn daily.
• 1869: Mill burned accidentally. Mill rebuilt.
• 1871: Mill contains 100 looms and 3,000 spindles.
• 1885 - 1940 : Construction of Rocky Mount Mills Mill Village
• 1888: Mill contains 200 looms and 6,000 spindles.
• 1889: Ginning and grist milling discontinued. Automatic sprinklers and electric lights installed in mill. Mills contains 10,000 spindles.
• 1892: Weaving of cloth discontinued. Focus shifted to spinning of yarns.
• 1900: Mill contains 25,000 spinning spindles and 7,000 twister spindles.
• 1923: Mill contains 35,000 spinning spindles.
• 1937: Mill contains 43,000 spinning spindles and 18,000 twister spindles.
• 1980: Mill listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
• 1996: Mill closes.
• 1999: Rocky Mount Mills Village Historic District listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

From the guide to the Rocky Mount Mills Records, 1804-2007, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)