Glencoe Mills

Glencoe Mills, established in 1880 by James Henry Holt (1833-1897) and William Erwin Holt (1839-1917), operated until 1954, producing cotton fabric. The Holt family also owned Carolina, Alamance, Elmira, Windsor, and Lakeside Mills, all in Alamance County, N.C. Robert Holt (1866-1923), son of James Henry Holt, operated the mills until 1902, when he retired from the other mills to concentrate on Glencoe Mills. Upon his death, ownership of Glencoe passed to his sister, Daisie Holt Green (1879-1976), whose husband, Walter Guerry Green (1868-1946), managed Glencoe. Their son, Walter G. Green (d. 1987), managed Glencoe Mills after his father's death.

From the description of Glencoe Mills records, 1837-1978. WorldCat record id: 38525637

Glencoe Mills, established in 1880 by James Henry Holt (1833-1897) and William Erwin Holt (1839-1917), operated until 1954, producing cotton fabric. In 1951, the mill reported capitalization of $225,000; 5,736 spindles; and 220 looms. It operated with electric power, had a dye plant, and had finishing equipment. Glencoe Mills closed in 1954.

Glencoe Mills was one of several mills owned and operated in Alamance County, N.C., by the Holt family. Edwin Michael Holt (1807-1884) started the Holt and Carrigan Cotton Mill in 1837. By 1860, it was called Alamance Cotton Mill and was famous for plaids. Edwin Michael Holt's sons, James Henry Holt and William Erwin Holt established Carolina Cotton Mills in 1869. Carolina Mills was operated by J. H. and W. E. Holt and Company. In 1879, James and William Holt acquired a building that had been a tobacco processing plant and that was a short way upstream from Carolina Mills. By 1880, they had installed cotton mill machinery and built mill tenement houses and a company store. They called the mill and the village Glencoe. William Holt moved to Charlotte to be a banker, leaving James Holt to run Glencoe Mills.

In 1890, James Henry Holt helped his sons, James Jr. (1864-1924) and Robert (1866-1923) build Windsor Cotton Mills in Burlington. Windsor Mills was operated by R. L. and J. H. Holt and Company. In 1892, Holt helped sons Samuel (1862-1924) and William (1868-1916) build Lakeside Mills in Burlington. After James Henry Holt died in 1897, his sons Samuel and Ernest moved to Texas to be cattle ranchers. Robert Holt managed Glencoe, Carolina, Alamance, and Elmira Cotton Mills, and was almost sole owner of Glencoe Mills. In 1902, he retired from management of the other mills and devoted 100% of his time to Glencoe. When Robert Holt died in 1923, ownership of Glencoe Mills passed to his sister, Daisie Holt Green (1879-1976).

Daisie Holt Green's husband, Walter Guerry Green (1868-1946), managed Glencoe Mills for a number of years. Green was a native of Sumter, S.C. He married Daisie Holt on 25 November 1902. Their son, Walter G. Green, Jr. (d. 1987), managed Glencoe Mills after his father. Walter Green, Jr., was an attorney. He married Irma Camman Jameson on 1 September 1934. He served in the United States Navy during World War II. Green was an active Republican in the 1950s and 1960s.

From the guide to the Glencoe Mills Records, 1837-1978, (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.)