The Mill House
The Mill House Museum tells story of what home life for an ordinary mill hand’s family was like. This typical 1903 mill house has been transformed into a 1934 dwelling, completely furnished with local artifacts..
Rent was 25¢ a room per week. Mother cut and sewed clothes from feed sacks and garments were kept clean with soap made from lard and lye. |
Garden produce was canned, dried or pickled. Hams and side meat were salt cured on hog killing day. Cooking and baking was accomplished on a wood cook stove.
Every child had chores—chopping wood, bringing in coal, emptying the ice box drip pan, washing dishes, feeding chickens, gathering eggs and more.
Cooleemee families were large, with an average of five children, and most had relatives or boarders living with them.
Every child had chores—chopping wood, bringing in coal, emptying the ice box drip pan, washing dishes, feeding chickens, gathering eggs and more.
Cooleemee families were large, with an average of five children, and most had relatives or boarders living with them.
Elders describe living in “one big family.” Neighbors visited often and looked after each other in hard times. Children could even be corrected by a neighbor.
Love filled these humble mill homes. Children learned life lessons —bring honor to your family, practice the “Golden Rule” and work hard, work to get ahead. All this made for a community of self-reliant people whose families didn’t lock their doors. Site History: The Mill House Museum was an original mill house built at 16 Joyner Street in the mill village of Erwin Mills. It was home to the Hendrix Family, the O.D. Canupp Family, and the Ruth and Glen McDaniel Family. In 2002 it was purchased by Don and Bonnie Byerly and moved to its present location at old 14 Cross Street for a museum. It is maintained by the Cooleemee Historical Association. The original house on this lot burned in the 1990s. That house was once home to the Boone Cartner family. |