The Delburg Cotton Mill

Stop and take a break to listen to the full story before going on.

The red brick building straight ahead is the former Delburg Cotton Mill. The mill opened in 1907 and operated until 1950. After 1950 the building was little used for 50 years until it was renovated for use as high-end shops, offices and restaurants. Its use today is consistent with the town of Davidson's vision to preserve and repurpose the town’s remaining historical buildings.

In Davidson, like in mill communities across the South, the Delburg Mill filled with many workers seeking a change from the hardscrabble of farm life. Many farm laborers left the fields for the factories in hopes that regular hours and cash wages would improve their standard of living. But life in the mill was not easy. Unlike farm labor, which varied according to the season, the pace and pattern of mill labor was monotonous. The mill workers' day was governed by the clock and the whistle. The mill worker’s wages rarely covered the bare necessities of living expenses.

Walk across the tracks to get a closer look at the Delburg Mill and Davidson College's HurtHub. Then return and continue on the Jackson Street sidewalk.

Tap the green Continue Tour button on your phone