When we get to use 100 year old reclaimed wood to transform spaces, it gets us really excited. So, this project was one we were really looking forward to. We were commissioned to build these 2 rolling tables and a conference table for one of the last remaining terry mills still in existence in the U.S.. 1888 Mills which is based in Chicago, IL, produces terry textiles in Griffin, GA. Here's a little history for those of you that love history as much as we do!
Thomaston Mills was established in 1899 in Thomaston, GA. By the later part of the 20th century Thomaston Mills grew to become the county's primary employer with over 2600 employees and expanded into other local cities such as Griffin, GA. Unfortunately, with the signing of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in 1992 which opened U.S. Doors to imports produced in Asia, Thomaston Mills began reporting losses, and less than 10 years later, in 2001 the company was shut down and most of the workers lost their jobs. Fortunately, 1888 Mills based in Chicago, purchased the Thomaston Mills Finishing Plant in Griffin, Ga and continued using the facility as a textile plant. In 2017, 1888 Mills will be relocating their headquarters from Chicago to Griffin, GA.
We were able to use some of the wood that we recently reclaimed from an early 1900's cotton mill warehouse, to build these tables for the new 1888 Mills innovation studio in Griffin. It's great to know that this reclaimed wood is getting back to its roots.
