Carolina Fiber Co.

Front: One of the first methods for producing paper from native pine wood pulp was developed by J. L. Coker, Jr. As a result, he with Maj. J. L. Coker and C. J. Woodruff formed the Carolina Fiber Company, March 20, 1890, to manufacture and market wood pulp and paper. Their mill was on nearby Black Creek. In 1941 the entire operation merged with adjacent Sonoco Products Company. Reverse: This enterprise was chartered as Southern Novelty Company in 1899; first directors were: Maj. J. L. Coker, J. L. Coker Jr., D. R. Coker, J. J. Lawton, and W. F. Smith. The name was changed to Sonoco Products Company in 1923. Today Sonoco is a leading global manufacturer of packaging products for major industries and employs approximately 16,000 people in 22 countries.