The textile mill replaced the second sawmill and was a two-and-a-half story brick structure that opened in 1845. The mill operated under the name “Arcadia Manufacturing Company” with 960 spindles and 24 looms. The labor force consisted of female slaves from Virginia.

By 1848, production reached 6,000 yards of cloth per week. In 1855, the textile mill burned, and investors chose not to rebuild. Visible archaeological remains include the ironstone foundations of the mill and the walls of the plunge pool. The plunge pool filtered water back into Pond Creek and can be viewed from either side of the boardwalk. Artifacts from the textile mill, excavated in the 1990s, can be seen in the Arcadia Mill Visitor’s Center and Museum.

Credits and Sources:

Information courtesy of UWF Historic Trust