Dunean Around the time of 1910 there was a rumor that a “million dollar mill” (#Bainbridge 1) was going to be constructed, and it was. Construction began in the warm month of May 1911. The mill was constructed of buff brick and black mortar. Before it was opened, the mill’s directors and officers were elected, and gave it the Irish name of Dunean.The first day of production was April 15, 1912. As time progressed, more and more people came to the area and a mill village was built. The village contained 180 houses. All the houses were built on large lots. Over the years, some improvements were made in the 1920s. A two-story schoolhouse and a daycare center were built. Both Baptists and Methodists worship houses were built on company land.
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With this the mill had to use fewer workers and wages were cut in half. Sadly, many of the workers were fired. From that point it got even worse because in 1930 the United Textile Workers union organized a strike on September 5, 1934. In the end, the deputies killed residents and one person was shot and killed loyal workers at the mill ended the strike. After World War II the mill increased their workforce making them the largest Greenville mill with over 2,500 employees. In 1946 J.P. Stevens & Co. bought the mill. In 1948 they also sold some of the village houses. The houses were sold to reduce or get rid of the cost of “maintenance, garbage collection, fire and police protection” (Bainbridge 5). In this grand area they also built a new baseball field and golf course which were used for major community events such as the Thanksgiving football game, the summer trips to Camp Parker, and the Halloween hot dog supper. Over the years the mill had completely change itself and the places around it. There were new opportunities for Parker High School graduates to leave the village and do other work. Another huge change was that “the mill no longer supported the churches, provided movies, or funded Little League teams”
With this the mill had to use fewer workers and wages were cut in half. Sadly, many of the workers were fired. From that point it got even worse because in 1930 the United Textile Workers union organized a strike on September 5, 1934. In the end, the deputies killed residents and one person was shot and killed loyal workers at the mill ended the strike. After World War II the mill increased their workforce making them the largest Greenville mill with over 2,500 employees. In 1946 J.P. Stevens & Co. bought the mill. In 1948 they also sold some of the village houses. The houses were sold to reduce or get rid of the cost of “maintenance, garbage collection, fire and police protection” (Bainbridge 5). In this grand area they also built a new baseball field and golf course which were used for major community events such as the Thanksgiving football game, the summer trips to Camp Parker, and the Halloween hot dog supper. Over the years the mill had completely change itself and the places around it. There were new opportunities for Parker High School graduates to leave the village and do other work. Another huge change was that “the mill no longer supported the churches, provided movies, or funded Little League teams”