Union Bleachery

Front: The Union Bleaching and Finishing Company began operations in 1903 with an initial capacity of 500,000 yards of cloth per week. It was the second custom finishing company in S.C. and was one of four original plants worldwide licensed to use the Sandfordizing Process, which reduced shrinkage of cotton cloth. In 1922 it was rechartered as Union Bleachery and by that time had a capacity of 2 million yards per week, making it the largest finishing plant in the South. Reverse: John White Arrington, who became company president in 1906, was key to the growth of both the plant and the surrounding mill village. The first homes were built along Arrington and Stephenson Avenues and in 1923 mill owners added a community building with a gymnasium. Employees played in the Textile Baseball League and the mill also maintained a nine-hole golf course. The mill, which was then operating as U.S. Finishing, burned in 2003.