What’s Going On?

By Bill Shepard

What’s going on at the site where the old mill stood? The old mill, known as The Darlington Manufacturing Company has been demolished and hauled away for several years. The old giant pumped life’s blood into the town of Darlington for nigh three quarters of a century. Now there is new activity going on at the site where the old giant once stood.

Bill Shepard

Bill Shepard

A number of people have written or called me about the progress going on at the site and wondering if I know what’s in the future for the place. Of course my answer is that I know nothing! I have heard about all the earth-moving equipment being used and know that someone is spending a lot of money.

1decided to call a friend that lives near the site thinking that surely they would have heard something but no luck there! When a project of this size is going on in a town the size of Darlington it would seem that most everyone would know what was happening. Not so!

I believe it was the very late Will Rogers who once said, “lf I read it in the newspaper, I will believe it! So, if it is not to be a secret put it in the paper and put a lot of the questioning minds at rest. I will keep searching in this paper!

Mr. Trump, our President has promised to bring our jobs back to America. Could it be that a new textile industry is in the plans for Darlington? Now that would be something worth writing about. The textile industry was once a major industry throughout the south but today it would be hard to find even one textile mill in operation, all have moved overseas! Hurry up, Mr. President, bring them back! Imagine another big cotton mill in operation in Darlington and why not? Is that just wishful thinking on the minds of many?

Just recently I visited the site where once a large Riegal Textile mill once stood. Today there is a large space of emptiness where the mill had been located. The site has been cleared, leveled, and green grass is growing. Efforts have been made to get an industry of some sort to build on the site. The situation is common in this part of the state. Hurry up, Mr. President, bring back our jobs!

I know I have rambled a lot in this article, all because some folk have written tome about what is happening at the old mill site. Maybe someone who has some answers will read this article and speak out! Better still, put it in the paper and we will believe it!

Next time,
Bill Shepard

A letter this week comes from La Crosse, Wisconsin! Glad you get the News & Press a way up there! Thanks for being in touch with your interesting letter! Yes! You can still buy ‘fat back” in South Carolina.

Mr. Shepard is a native of Darlington, S.C., and a current resident of Piedmont, S.C. He is the author of “Mill Town Boy” and “Bruised”. He has been sharing his tales of growing up in Darlington for decades, and we are delighted to share them each week. His mailing address for cards and letters is: Bill Shepard 324 Sunny Lane, Piedmont, S.C., 29673.

Author: Duane Childers

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