Discover Greenville Textile History With New Museum

A Tribute to a Bygone Industrial Legacy

GREENVILLE, S.C. – Residents of a mill village in Greenville have been tirelessly working to safeguard and celebrate the county’s profound textile mill history for nearly a decade. A significant part of their ambitious project is already finished, and now they are reaching out to the community for support to complete the job.

Don Harkins, chairman of the Greenville Textile Heritage Society, spoke fondly of growing up in the Monaghan mill village. “It was 365 homes, but it felt like everyone knew everyone. We had a school close by, a ball field, a gymnasium, and everything was confined in this little one village”, he said.

Preserving the Textile Heritage

Harkins and his team have dedicated over ten years to preserving this unique slice of history. “Our goal is to preserve and celebrate our textile heritage, and also to educate the general public as to the role that textiles played in the growth and development of Greenville,” Harkins remarked.

Six years ago, the Greenville Textile Heritage Society envisioned transforming a six-acre parking area into a beautiful park on Smythe Street. Today, anyone taking a walk through the Mill Walk at the park can gain insights into the influence of textile giants on the local infrastructure, libraries, hospitals, and homes.

Next Step: A Museum

The group’s next endeavor is to build a museum within the park, adding more historical depth to the site. “Sometimes I just sit back and marvel at what’s been accomplished, and I know it’s the Lord that’s helped us and so many wonderful people who share the same vision that we have,” stated Harkins.

The community has generously funded the park project so far. Soon, a campaign will be launched to raise funds for the proposed museum. Community members interested in contributing can contact the Greenville Textile Heritage Society.

An Important Chapter in Greenville’s History

The textile industry had a significant role in Greenville’s burgeoning growth and development. It helped shape the community, creating bonds of friendship and kinship that transcended the work environment. This sense of camaraderie and shared history is what the Greenville Textile Heritage Society seeks to honor and preserve.

The efforts to celebrate and remember the rich textile history of the mill village embody the community spirit that the village was originally built on. With the park and future museum, residents and visitors can take a trip down memory lane, learning about the mill village’s idyllic past in the process.