Upcountry History Museum

Greenville Textile Heritage Festival Expands to Two Days

Greenville, South Carolina – September 21, 2009 – Greenville’s Upcountry History Museum will host the third annual Greenville Textile Heritage Festival on October 3-4, 2009. The Festival has been expanded to two days and free admission to the museum is to be provided courtesy of The Greenville Textile Heritage Society on both days.

“Last year’s Saturday festival was very successful and many of the attendees wanted additional time to view the exhibits and the museum’s permanent collection,” said Don Harkins, chairman of The Greenville Textile Heritage Society “So we decided to make it a weekend event on both Saturday and Sunday. Last year we had fourteen textile-related exhibits and this year that will increase to 27. We also have added seven educational presentations in the theatre on various aspects of Greenville’s textile history and John Fowler will provide two fun musical presentations which children will enjoy. In addition we will have music in the lobby area throughout the two days. There will be food and beverages available on Saturday so that families can make this a day-long outing.”

The Greenville Textile Heritage Society was organized in late 2006 in response to a call from the Southwide Textile Heritage Initiative based in Cooleemee North Carolina to insure the preservation of Greenville’s rich textile history. One of the goals of the local Textile Heritage Society is the establishment of a permanent textile museum to preserve this history.

Greenville was a sleepy small town until the Camperdown Mills opened in 1874 on the banks of the Reedy River at the site of present day Falls Park. By 1937 there were 37 textile mills in Greenville County and another 100 within a 100 mile radius of the city. Numerous companies were started to supply machinery and parts to the industry and sewing plants were established to change the cloth into finished garments. The Southern Textile Exhibition, later expanded to the American Textile Machinery Expo, was held in Greenville beginning in 1915 and Greenville was proclaimed as “The Textile Center of the World” for more than 40 years.

The Festival will feature exhibits on many local mills, the Parker school district and this year will have a special exhibit from the South Carolina Cotton Museum of Bennettsville SC. Saturday the Festival will be from 10 AM until 5 PM and on Sunday from 1 PM until 5 PM.

Contacts:

Don Harkins, Chairman, Greenville Textile Heritage Society, 864 201-5875, ehark1@charter.net

Dr. Anne Blythe, Curator, Upcountry History Museum, 864 467-3100/ext 100

Interviews and photos available upon request.