Facade

(Cherokee Finishing Company) The Irene Mill Finishing Plant is significant for its association with the Irene Mill, a textile firm which played an important role in the development of Gaffney in the early twentieth century. The Irene Mill was founded in 1904 by Hiram D. Wheat, the former treasurer and president of the Gaffney Manufacturing Company. The mill produced damask which was shipped to New England for finishing. In 1915-1916 Wheat constructed the Irene Mill finishing plant, which is a large, rectangular, one-story brick building with a gable roof with exposed support beams. The brick is a five-course common bond with a header row of glazed brick. The building features nine-over-nine-over-nine triple sash windows. Circa 1950 brick addition are located on the southeast end of the building and on the northern end of the rear (southwest) elevation. Two small, square brick structures with pyramidal roofs covered with pressed metal shingles stand in front of the building. In the finishing plant the cloth was washed, soaked, boiled, bleached, and calendered, enabling the mill to produce finished damask products. Listed in the National Register March 27, 1986.

View the complete text of the nomination form for this National Register property. In addition, the Historic Resources of Gaffney, ca. 1820-ca. 1935 includes historical background information for this and other related National Register properties.

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