Greenville Textiles

Mills and textiles are a important part of the history of the South, and Greenville, known as the &quote;Textile Capital of the World&quote; played a key role.Greenville's textile heritage is what made the community the economic force it is today. From its antebellum beginnings with only a handful of mills, Greenville continued to grow industrially as more and more Northern investors saw financial opportunity in the area. With its notable feats, such as having the largest textile mill under one roof to its many mills fighting off &quote;flying squadrons&quote; during the General Textile Strike of 1934, the county's textile past is as rich and colorful as the fabrics it produced. Greenville's ascension to the &quote;Textile Capital of the World&quote; was unfortunately followed by the flood of overseas goods, resulting in the closing of many Upstate institutions. Though these mills are now silent, their efforts are what attracted so many other industries to the area.

Greenville author Kelly Odom began his professional career working in the textile industry before returning to his family's pharmacy, of which he is now a third-generation owner. Odom has spent his adult life promoting and preserving the area he lives in and has served on boards of various civic organizations, including secretary of the Greenville County Historic Preservation Commission, vice president of the Greenville County Historical Society, and board member of the Palmetto Trust for Historic Preservation. His accomplishments include chairing the Save the Wilkins House Initiative and authoring Greenville's Augusta Road.