The Fries Cotton Mill (also known as the Fries Cotton and Woolen Mill, the Salem Cotton Manufacturing Company and F & H Fries Manufacturing Company) was a cotton mill in Salem, North Carolina, first erected in 1840. During the Civil War, the Fries Cotton Mill was an important supplier of wool and cotton goods to the Confederate Army.[1][2][3]
The Fries Cotton Mill was founded in Salem, North Carolina by Francis "Franz" Levin Fries (1812-1863), a prominent Salem citizen and textile manufacturer who had worked at the Salem cotton factory.[2] Years before the Civil War, Fries had visited cotton mills in northern states to learn about the business and manufacturing methods involved in the cotton mill industry. He later developed methods of his own and subsequently organised the Salem Cotton Manufacturing Company.[1] Leaving his position at another company in 1840, Fries established his own mill at Lot No. 103 on the north-west corner of New Shallowford Street and Salt Street (now Brookston Avenue and South Liberty Street).[2] Fries situated the mill in the center of the lot, next to a small creek. Power was provided by a wood-burning steam engine. The first wool rolls were carded on 14 June, and spinning began four months later.[2] The mechanical carding of the wool was considered Fries' most successful business innovation.[1] In May 1842, Fries publicly announced that he intended “to keep constantly on hand a good assortment of wools, common yarn, Stocking Yarn ready twisted, and cheap Lindseys and cloths of different colors, qualities and prices.”[2] By May 1843 the mill had added "good, heavy Jeans" to the line, which would go on to become one of Fries' most popular products.[2]
In March 1846 Francis Fries entered into a business partnership with his younger brother, Henry W. Fries, and together they formed the firm F & H Fries.[1][2][4] The new company formed business links with northern businesses, and began to trade widely throughout the south.[2] The firm added a new cotton mill in 1848, and enlarged the mills again in 1860.[4] By this point the floor capacity of the mill was 24,000 sq.ft., with a dye house, dry-house and warehouses.[4] Francis Fries' standing in the community was such that he was a member of the Forsyth County House of Commons from 1858 to 1859.[1]
Civil War eraedit
At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, the Fries factory began to supply wool and cotton goods for the Confederate Army and cloth for uniforms,[1][2][3] working round the clock throughout the war.[3] In 1861, Henry Fries corresponded with North Carolina governor Henry T. Clark concerning his problems supplying the army with adequate materials.[1] During 1863 and 1864, private houses all around the town were used to dry Fries' cloth before it was made into oilcloth, children in the town wore wooden shoes to save leather for war supplies, and children and elderly townspeople were all involved in preparing different materials for the war effort.[3] As the war progressed, army wool suppliers such as the Fries Cotton Mill were accused of profiteering, with profits from sales to the Confederate government reaching 67%.[5] Governor Zebulon B. Vance publicly denounced these practices in the legislature, to strong objections from the mill owners, with Frank Fries describing Vance's comments as "very sweeping" and stating in a letter that the state's millers "are not more incorrigible than other classes of our citizens".[5] Fellow mill owner and North Carolina secessionist leader John A. Young challenged Vance from the floor of the State Senate and forced a retraction of his comments.[5]
Post-Waredit
Francis Fries died in 1863, and Henry Fries took over the business, including a tannery, founded in 1769 and run by their relative John W. Fries, and a grist mill. The Fries Cotton Mill was one of the most advanced manufacturing outfits in the state at that time.[4] By 1974, the mill had 1,614 spindles and 40 looms in operation, employed 100 people, and produced both yarn and cloth.[6] Between 1840 and 1877 the mills never stopped work for a day, apart from repairs or refitting.[4]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgCasey, Cindy H. Piedmont Soldiers and their Families. Charleston, SC: Tempus Publishing Company. 2000. Pages 24-26. Includes a photo of Francis Fries.
^ abcdefghiFries, Adelaide; Stuart T. Wright; J. Edwin Hendricks. Forsyth: A History of a County on the March. University of North Carolina Press. 1976. Page 99.
^ abcdFries, Adelaide; Stuart T. Wright; J. Edwin Hendricks. Forsyth: A History of a County on the March. University of North Carolina Press. 1976. Page 135.
^ abcdeGuide Book of North Western North Carolina. Blum Co: Salem, NC. 1878. Pages 24-25.
^ abcWilson, Harold S. Confederate Industry: Manufacturers and Quartermaster in the Civil War. Jackson, MS: University Press of Mississippi. 2002. Pages 57-59.
^Griffin, Richard W. “Reconstruction of the North Carolina Textile Industry, 1865-1885.” North Carolina Historical Review. Volume 41, Winter, 1963. Pages 34-35.
March 12, 2024
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The Fries Cotton Mill also known as the Fries Cotton and Woolen Mill the Salem Cotton Manufacturing Company and F amp H Fries Manufacturing Company was a cotton mill in Salem North Carolina first erected in 1840 During the Civil War the Fries Cotton Mill was an important supplier of wool and cotton goods to the Confederate Army 1 2 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Establishment and growth 1 2 Civil War era 1 3 Post War 2 ReferencesHistory editEstablishment and growth edit The Fries Cotton Mill was founded in Salem North Carolina by Francis Franz Levin Fries 1812 1863 a prominent Salem citizen and textile manufacturer who had worked at the Salem cotton factory 2 Years before the Civil War Fries had visited cotton mills in northern states to learn about the business and manufacturing methods involved in the cotton mill industry He later developed methods of his own and subsequently organised the Salem Cotton Manufacturing Company 1 Leaving his position at another company in 1840 Fries established his own mill at Lot No 103 on the north west corner of New Shallowford Street and Salt Street now Brookston Avenue and South Liberty Street 2 Fries situated the mill in the center of the lot next to a small creek Power was provided by a wood burning steam engine The first wool rolls were carded on 14 June and spinning began four months later 2 The mechanical carding of the wool was considered Fries most successful business innovation 1 In May 1842 Fries publicly announced that he intended to keep constantly on hand a good assortment of wools common yarn Stocking Yarn ready twisted and cheap Lindseys and cloths of different colors qualities and prices 2 By May 1843 the mill had added good heavy Jeans to the line which would go on to become one of Fries most popular products 2 In March 1846 Francis Fries entered into a business partnership with his younger brother Henry W Fries and together they formed the firm F amp H Fries 1 2 4 The new company formed business links with northern businesses and began to trade widely throughout the south 2 The firm added a new cotton mill in 1848 and enlarged the mills again in 1860 4 By this point the floor capacity of the mill was 24 000 sq ft with a dye house dry house and warehouses 4 Francis Fries standing in the community was such that he was a member of the Forsyth County House of Commons from 1858 to 1859 1 Civil War era edit At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861 the Fries factory began to supply wool and cotton goods for the Confederate Army and cloth for uniforms 1 2 3 working round the clock throughout the war 3 In 1861 Henry Fries corresponded with North Carolina governor Henry T Clark concerning his problems supplying the army with adequate materials 1 During 1863 and 1864 private houses all around the town were used to dry Fries cloth before it was made into oilcloth children in the town wore wooden shoes to save leather for war supplies and children and elderly townspeople were all involved in preparing different materials for the war effort 3 As the war progressed army wool suppliers such as the Fries Cotton Mill were accused of profiteering with profits from sales to the Confederate government reaching 67 5 Governor Zebulon B Vance publicly denounced these practices in the legislature to strong objections from the mill owners with Frank Fries describing Vance s comments as very sweeping and stating in a letter that the state s millers are not more incorrigible than other classes of our citizens 5 Fellow mill owner and North Carolina secessionist leader John A Young challenged Vance from the floor of the State Senate and forced a retraction of his comments 5 Post War edit Francis Fries died in 1863 and Henry Fries took over the business including a tannery founded in 1769 and run by their relative John W Fries and a grist mill The Fries Cotton Mill was one of the most advanced manufacturing outfits in the state at that time 4 By 1974 the mill had 1 614 spindles and 40 looms in operation employed 100 people and produced both yarn and cloth 6 Between 1840 and 1877 the mills never stopped work for a day apart from repairs or refitting 4 References edit a b c d e f g Casey Cindy H Piedmont Soldiers and their Families Charleston SC Tempus Publishing Company 2000 Pages 24 26 Includes a photo of Francis Fries a b c d e f g h i Fries Adelaide Stuart T Wright J Edwin Hendricks Forsyth A History of a County on the March University of North Carolina Press 1976 Page 99 a b c d Fries Adelaide Stuart T Wright J Edwin Hendricks Forsyth A History of a County on the March University of North Carolina Press 1976 Page 135 a b c d e Guide Book of North Western North Carolina Blum Co Salem NC 1878 Pages 24 25 a b c Wilson Harold S Confederate Industry Manufacturers and Quartermaster in the Civil War Jackson MS University Press of Mississippi 2002 Pages 57 59 Griffin Richard W Reconstruction of the North Carolina Textile Industry 1865 1885 North Carolina Historical Review Volume 41 Winter 1963 Pages 34 35 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fries Cotton Mill amp oldid 1044174573, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
