Savage the Mill Town

The Savage Mill has been around for over 200 years. The workers processed cotton there, making canvas that was used for ship's sails and tents. Like many mills, it spawned its own little town around it. Much of that town is still around.

The mill

The mill owners, the Baldwin family, had a large home built in 1894 for the mill's superintendent. The home still stands and is used for wedding receptions and other events. It sure looks fancy.

Savage Mill Manor front

I love a front porch! And a back extension.

View from the other angle

A little awning out back for pictures?

If this was Europe, that statue would be nude!

The mill owners built homes for the regular workers as well. These date back to the American Civil War. Up to four families were housed in each building. I think that's been scaled back nowadays.

Fairly plain townhouse

Back extensions weren't just for the superintendent!

A bit brighter

Bricks added later? Certainly the antenna was.

Probably not mill housing but I love the staircase

On Washington Street is the Baldwin Summer Home. It took almost twenty years to build (1859-1878). The Baldwins owned the mill from 1859 to 1948, so they had a good motive to live nearby. 

Baldwin Summer Home

Also has a back extension!

The mill provided other support for the workers. The building now known as the Masonic Hall was the first school for the residents of Savage.

Masonic Hall

Maybe they're putting on a back extension?

In 1921 the Baldwins built a social hall for the residents and named it after Carroll Baldwin, the president of the Savage Manufacturing Company from 1905 to 1918. It's still used as a social hall--we've danced there!

Carroll Baldwin Hall

The town still makes me think of the old Tennessee Ernie Ford song "Sixteen Tons." It's about a guy who works for "the Company" and he can't get out of the debt he owes to them. Companies often would loan out money from future paychecks which could turn into an economic trap for people not thrifty enough to live on their means. Maybe some companies paid too little.