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Grey Hosiery Mill, Hendersonville, NC

The original 1915 knitting room faces Fourth Avenue East.

Early in April 2017 Hendersonville City Council voted unanimously to work with hotel developer Belmont Sayre to preserve and renovate Grey Hosiery Mill into a one-story, 57-room upscale boutique hotel with a 2,000-square-foot event space.

Grey Hosiery Mill will be turned into a hotel and event space. Grey Hosiery Mill was founded in 1915 at the request of the citizens of Hendersonville. Originally they made knee-length ribbed stockings for children. After the invention of nylon, they made ladies stockings. The original section of the Mill has clerestory windows opened and closed with a pulley system.

Belmont Sayre, based in Durham, North Carolina specializing in urban, mixed-use office, retail and residential projects like Raleigh’s Depot District and Asheville’s old Battery Park Hotel. They have experience working with federal and state historic tax credits.

You can see a portfolio of some of their projects here: www.belmontsayre.com/?page=portfolio

You can see the proposed floor plan here:  www.blueridgenow.com/news/20170406/city-council-goes-with-boutique-hotel-for-downtown

Grey Hosiery Mill was founded in 1915 by Captain James P. Grey. The citizens of Hendersonville requested Captain P. Grey and his son, James P. Grey Jr. start the mill to bring industrial development to Hendersonville. They contributed $600 as an incentive.

By 1914, North Carolina ranked fourth nationwide in hosiery production. There were already other hosiery mills in the area; Hart Manufacturing where Flat Rock Theater is now, Skyland Hosiery, later Chipman-La Cross Hosiery in East Flat Rock as well as the Farley Textile and Freeze-Bacon Hosiery mills.

Captain P. Grey was a North Carolina native. After attending Davidson College, near Charlotte, he taught school. He was able to retire from teaching following a successful Investment in timber. He learned the textile business at a large mill in Johnson City, Tennessee. He applied this knowledge to establishing the Grey Hosiery Mill near the railroad in Hendersonville. Thirty-two knitting machines produced knee-length ribbed stockings for children. They employed twenty-five people.

In 1919 Captain Grey’s brother Charles L. Grey joined the company. He had previously worked for local Freeze-Bacon Hosiery mill. Captain Grey moved to Bristol, Tennessee, but his son and brother continued to run the company. After the invention of nylon, production changed to women’s seamless hosiery. The mill employed 250 at its peak. Grey Hosiery Mill was operated by the Grey family until 1965. The plant closed in 1967.

Entrance to Original 1915 Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill: Glazed-over-single-panel doors topped by six-light transoms. Large multi-pane steel-sash windows with concrete sills. Facade rises to a stepped parapet.
Entrance to Original 1915 Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill: Glazed-over-single-panel doors topped by six-light transoms. Large multi-pane steel-sash windows with concrete sills. Facade rises to a stepped parapet.
Large steel-sashed windows with concrete sills run the length of the original portion of Grey Hosiery Mill.
Large steel-sashed windows with concrete sills run the length of the original portion of Grey Hosiery Mill.
The long side of the 1915 Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill runs along Grove Street. Large steel-sash windows.
The long side of the 1915 Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill runs along Grove Street. Large steel-sash windows.
Doors to Original Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill from Grove Street
Doors to Original Portion of Grey Hosiery Mill from Grove Street
The northern most window bay in the original portion of Grey Hosiery has been partially enclosed around a seven-by-seven glass block window.
The northern most window bay in the original portion of Grey Hosiery has been partially enclosed around a seven-by-seven glass block window.
Interior of original portion of Grey Hosiery Mill
Interior of original portion of Grey Hosiery Mill
The original section of the Mill has wood floors, an open interior. The Clerestory windows can be opened and closed with a pulley system.
The original section of the Mill has wood floors, an open interior. The Clerestory windows can be opened and closed with a pulley system.
The 1915 portion of Grey Hosiery Mill has bead-board ceilings and clerestory windows. Heavy timber posts support the roof beams.
The 1915 portion of Grey Hosiery Mill has bead-board ceilings and clerestory windows. Heavy timber posts support the roof beams.
On the left, concrete steps lead to glazed-over-single-panel doors to the original 1915 Entrance to Grey's Hosiery. The low hip roof porticoes are supported by plain square columns. On the right, the 1919 addition mimics the original portico entrance.
On the left, concrete steps lead to glazed-over-single-panel doors to the original 1915 Entrance to Grey’s Hosiery. The low hip roof porticoes are supported by plain square columns. On the right, the 1919 addition mimics the original portico entrance.
1919 Addition to Grey's Mill was used for shipping and storage with rooms for finishing and drying. It has a matching slightly peaked stepped parapet roof detail.
1919 Addition to Grey’s Mill was used for shipping and storage with rooms for finishing and drying. It has a matching slightly peaked stepped parapet roof detail.
1919 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill contained rooms for finishing, boarding and drying.
1919 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill contained rooms for finishing, boarding and drying.
Interior of 1919 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill
Interior of 1919 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill
1947 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill
1947 Addition to Grey Hosiery Mill
Following WWII and the invention of nylon, Grey Hosiery produced Betty Grey, Dolly Grey and Grey Moor stockings.
Following WWII and the invention of nylon, Grey Hosiery produced Betty Grey, Dolly Grey and Grey Moor stockings.

www.hendersonvillehpc.org/structures/national-register-listings/grey-hosiery-mill

National Register of Historic Spaces from National Park Service

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