Union Manufacturing Company
Also known as: Chipman--Union,Inc.
Why it's listed
Union Manufacturing Company is an industrial complex in Union Point, Georgia, made up of 20 historic buildings and one historic structure erected between 1897 and 1931. Most are one- and two-story brick buildings with load-bearing walls, segmental arches over doors and windows, and plank-and-timber interior framing. A few are wood-and-iron buildings with clerestory roofs, and an octagonal brick chimney with a black brick checkerboard band stands beside the former boiler house. The mill was founded in 1897 to give the town a year-round payroll, starting with eight workers making cotton underwear before switching to socks. Its location on the railroad helped both the company and the town grow. Production surged during both World Wars. The mill has operated continuously and became Chipman-Union after a 1972 merger. Its simple, functional design is typical of small-town Georgia mills of the New South period, and several of the oldest buildings have been rehabilitated as offices.
Significance in brief: The complex is significant in architecture as a typical late 19th-century mill with early 20th-century additions, built of load-bearing brick and slow-burning timber framing. It is also significant in industry as the major local employer and a good example of New South industrialization in a small Georgia town. It has operated continuously since the late 19th century.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 89000026, listed February 24, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 500 Sibley Ave., Union Point |
|---|---|
| County | Greene County |
| Listed | February 24, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89000026 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1897-1931 |
| Architectural style | No style (industrial mill complex) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in operation as a hosiery manufacturer; buildings 9, 10 and 11 were rehabilitated as offices, and several vacant buildings are targeted for future rehabilitation. |
| Acreage | 5 |
| Within district | Union Point Historic District |
| Coordinates | 33.61330, -83.07265 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 89000026.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.