2014.009.001

Photograph of African American men working on a railroad track while being supervised by a white man at Carrboro Woolen Mills in North Carolina in March, 1945. The Carrboro Woolen Mills was a Southern branch of Lawrence's Pacific Mills.

The Pacific Mills' Carrboro branch, which is named the Carrboro Woolen Mills, began operations in April, 1945 after the first unit had been thoroughly modernized with air-conditioning, fluorescent lighting, and the latest spinning and weaving equipment. Not only was the interior of the building renovated and modernized but the grounds were attractively landscaped. After the second building was purchased, it was similarly modernized. The first bolt of woolen military cloth, made on contract for the government, came from the looms April 27, 1945. Within a few months, however, Pacific Mills was manufacturing its pre-war type of products---high grade worsteds for mens' and ladies' suits, dress material, auto fabrics, and the like. The mills regularly employ about 525 persons, and have an annual payroll of $1,100,000. Except for a few key men, all are local people who had to learn the processes after they were employed. Theresident manager is David E. Arthur, who came to Carrboro from Lawrence, Massachusetts.

Photo taken by Charles Smith.