Washington Mills-Mayodan Plant
Also known as: Mayo Mills; Washington Group-Mayodan Plant; Tultex Corp.-Mayodan Plant
Why it's listed
Textile production began on this ten-acre site beside the Mayo River in Mayodan in 1895, when Mayo Mills was built to spin cotton yarn. The company was organized by Francis H. Fries with investors including Washington Duke, and it began operating in April 1896 with two water wheels fed by a two-thirds-mile canal. The complex later became Washington Mills, then Tultex, and closed in 1999. Two large brick mills remain: the 1895 spinning mill, expanded between 1897 and 1954, and the 1911 knitting mill, extended three times between 1931 and 1941. Both use heavy timber framing, segmental-arch windows and little ornament. A boiler room, engine house, warehouses and other support buildings complete the group. The nomination treats the plant as an example of North Carolina's late nineteenth-century industrial growth, which depended on railroads and the idea that manufacturing could replace farming as the state's economic base. The mill also prompted the founding of Mayodan as a company town.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the plant as representative of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century industrial growth of Rockingham County and North Carolina, driven by railroads and the New South belief in manufacturing. It was established by Francis H. Fries and investors, and led to the creation of the mill town of Mayodan. The two brick heavy-timber mills, expanded through 1954, show how the plant grew from yarn spinning into knitting and dyeing.
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 05000319, listed April 20, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7801 NC 35, Mayodan |
|---|---|
| County | Rockingham County |
| Listed | April 20, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000319 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1895-1954 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and Early 20th Century American Movements: Heavy Timber Mill Construction |
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The plant closed in 1999. The spinning mill is described as in good condition, with its machinery removed and its windows infilled. Current functions are listed as vacant/not in use, with some office and warehouse use. |
| Acreage | 10.8 |
| Coordinates | 36.40897, -79.96567 (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).
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 05000319.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q22061121
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.