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Sunday, December 04, 2005

GROVEVILLE: A CERTAIN CHARM

Mayor Glen Gilmore’s administration recently converted the run down “Morris Mills,” Anchor Thread Company property into a community park. In its heyday the textile mill was a major employer of local Groveville residents. The engraving accompanying this post is from Evert and Stewart’s 1875 Atlas. It is an exquisite bird’s eye view of the town looking north toward Yardville.

August 17, 1898, From the Daily State Gazette: A gentleman signing his name only as “Howard” takes a trip from Yardville to Groveville.
(The parenthetical notes are Tom’s notes to clarify persons, places and things referred to in the original article.)

Leaving the village of Yardville at the creek close to Kirby's Mills,
(Gropp’s Lake) it was quite a little ascent for the stranger to reach the adjoining country, which is known as Groveville. The scenery around this section is very romantic; ­a section suitable for study by the nat­uralist, the botanist or for any branch of science of a kindred nature.
At the end of a few moments' jaunt the first point of attraction that caught the eye was the spire of the village church, (Groveville Methodist) a beautiful edifice, newly constructed, neat in appearance and of modern build. In the church yard there were noticed the mounds of many of the departed, dotted here and there with an American flag, denoting the resting place of a departed comrade who when alive had done service for his country.
Leaving the church premises I soon reached the village proper. Turning to the left I proceeded far enough to observe the erection of a tent which had been recently used by the church people for a harvest home. Retracing my steps I proceeded to the other end of the village, and dur­ing the stroll I was pleased to see a number of small American flags at­tached to the front of the dwellings. The dwellings of Groveville are built rather close together, more so than in Yardville. These dwellings are chiefly occupied by the operatives of the mill.
The general store is located in the lower end of the village opposite the mill. The store is well stocked, as there are also the other stores in the same community. Proceeding in the direction of the mill my attention was arrested on viewing a very handsome residence prominently located in the village centre, the grounds surrounding this mansion being exceedingly attractive. These promises I was informed, were occupied by Mr. Morris, the proprietor of the mill.
The cotton mill of Morris & Co., so well known as the Groveville Mills, are among the most extensive of the kind in the state. These mills have been continuously favored with full orders, and I have been informed that they have orders ahead at this date. The product of those mills have al­ways found a ready market. Through panic after panic these mills have given steady employment to the indus­trial element of the village. These works cover a large space of ground and favored with every facility for the uninterrupted running of the plant, and it is to hoped that this same industrial prosperity will continuo to remain within the borders of the
village for many years to come.

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