Lowe Mill
Encyclopedia
Lowe Mill is an historic old cotton mill
of approximately 171000 sq ft (15,886.4 m²) located at 2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville, Alabama
35805.
In 1900, Arthur H. Lowe of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
formed Lowe Manufacturing Co, and began the building of Huntsville’s fifth textile mill. Lowe Mill opened in 1901 with 25,000 spindles that helped to turn locally-grown cotton
into woven cloth.
In 1902, Eastern Manufacturing Company built the final large mill in Huntsville, a weaving mill across from Lowe Mill. Lowe Mill and Eastern Manufacturing merged their companies and the two buildings in 1904. The spinning Mill supplied yarns for the weaving mills, where the highest grade gingham
s and shirtings were made to supply large clothing manufacturers throughout the nation.
In December 1932, Lowe Manufacturing Co declared bankruptcy
, and the factory started back up again under Lowe Mills, Inc in January 1933, with Donald Comer, head of Birmingham’s Avondale Mills as majority stock holder. In 1936, Lowe Mill changed hands again when Edwin Greene of New York became majority stock holder of the renamed Lowe Corporation. In March 1937, Lowe Corporation was dissolved, the plant was sold to Walter Laxson and became a cotton warehouse.
At the end of World War II, in December 1945, Nashville-based General Shoe Co. opened a shoe factory in Lowe Mill, employing up to 800 people.
In 1959, General Shoe Co. became Genesco, Inc.
Many US soldiers in Vietnam wore boots made at Genesco’s Huntsville factory.
In 1978, Genesco closed and Martin Industries turned Lowe Mill into a warehouse for residential and commercial heating systems.
In 1999, realtor Gene McLain bought Lowe Mill and then in 2001, sold it to Research Genetics founder Jim Hudson, who is the current owner of Lowe Mill.
In 2006, Operon Biotechnologies, Inc (now Eurofins MWG Operon) relocated its global HQ and USA production facility to the Lowe Mill’s north wing and Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in the east and south wings. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment houses The Flying Monkey Arts Center, Vertical House Records, Susan Knecht Glass Studio & Gallery, Ozaki Fine Art, Amber Brookman, The Wedge–Rita Burkholder, The Dead Workers Party and many more artists. There is a weekly artist market held every Saturday from 12–4 pm and music, film, theatre events every weekend.
Cotton mill
A cotton mill is a factory that houses spinning and weaving machinery. Typically built between 1775 and 1930, mills spun cotton which was an important product during the Industrial Revolution....
of approximately 171000 sq ft (15,886.4 m²) located at 2211 Seminole Drive, Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville, Alabama
Huntsville is a city located primarily in Madison County in the central part of the far northern region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Huntsville is the county seat of Madison County. The city extends west into neighboring Limestone County. Huntsville's population was 180,105 as of the 2010 Census....
35805.
In 1900, Arthur H. Lowe of Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg, Massachusetts
Fitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
formed Lowe Manufacturing Co, and began the building of Huntsville’s fifth textile mill. Lowe Mill opened in 1901 with 25,000 spindles that helped to turn locally-grown cotton
Cotton
Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective capsule, around the seeds of cotton plants of the genus Gossypium. The fiber is almost pure cellulose. The botanical purpose of cotton fiber is to aid in seed dispersal....
into woven cloth.
In 1902, Eastern Manufacturing Company built the final large mill in Huntsville, a weaving mill across from Lowe Mill. Lowe Mill and Eastern Manufacturing merged their companies and the two buildings in 1904. The spinning Mill supplied yarns for the weaving mills, where the highest grade gingham
Gingham
Gingham is a medium-weight balanced plain-woven fabric made from dyed cotton or cotton-blend yarn.The name originates from an adjective in the Malay language, genggang , meaning striped. Some sources say that the name came into English via Dutch...
s and shirtings were made to supply large clothing manufacturers throughout the nation.
In December 1932, Lowe Manufacturing Co declared bankruptcy
Bankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
, and the factory started back up again under Lowe Mills, Inc in January 1933, with Donald Comer, head of Birmingham’s Avondale Mills as majority stock holder. In 1936, Lowe Mill changed hands again when Edwin Greene of New York became majority stock holder of the renamed Lowe Corporation. In March 1937, Lowe Corporation was dissolved, the plant was sold to Walter Laxson and became a cotton warehouse.
At the end of World War II, in December 1945, Nashville-based General Shoe Co. opened a shoe factory in Lowe Mill, employing up to 800 people.
In 1959, General Shoe Co. became Genesco, Inc.
Many US soldiers in Vietnam wore boots made at Genesco’s Huntsville factory.
In 1978, Genesco closed and Martin Industries turned Lowe Mill into a warehouse for residential and commercial heating systems.
In 1999, realtor Gene McLain bought Lowe Mill and then in 2001, sold it to Research Genetics founder Jim Hudson, who is the current owner of Lowe Mill.
In 2006, Operon Biotechnologies, Inc (now Eurofins MWG Operon) relocated its global HQ and USA production facility to the Lowe Mill’s north wing and Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment in the east and south wings. Lowe Mill ARTS & Entertainment houses The Flying Monkey Arts Center, Vertical House Records, Susan Knecht Glass Studio & Gallery, Ozaki Fine Art, Amber Brookman, The Wedge–Rita Burkholder, The Dead Workers Party and many more artists. There is a weekly artist market held every Saturday from 12–4 pm and music, film, theatre events every weekend.
Sources
- Historic Huntsville: A City of New Beginnings, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Heritage Room
- Northern Dollars for Huntsville Spindles, Patricia H. Ryan, Huntsville Planning Dept, 1983.