The history and future of judson mill

​Those who are new or native to the city of Greenville may not know that the once largest mill in Greenville County is currently undergoing a major transformation into a space of sustainable living, prideful work, and passionate love.​

A newspaper clipping from The Greenville News on Dec. 30, 1923. Greenville News Archives/newspapers.com

Named after Furman University professor Charles Judson, the textile mill served as a place of work, industry, and community. The 36-acre mill is part of the Mill Crescent, which is a collection of textile mills along the city of Greenville’s western border. It originally operated 53,000 spindles and 1,200 looms and was the first to produce fine linens in the south. In the sense of creating community, Judson Mill created a friendly atmosphere amongst friends, family, and neighbors. The mill originally opened in March of 1912, and formally closed in October of 2015. However, the closing of the textile mill could not put a stop to the soulful, historical community. ​​

​Since construction began in 2019, residents, community partners, stakeholders, and a development team have been working hard to preserve and encapsulate the history, soul, and character of the area. The idea behind the project is to create affordable places to work, live, and play. The transformation is creating three types of spaces: loft apartments, an entertainment center, and an extensive event space. Architectural details such as hundred-year-old masonry, oversized mill windows, and original timber beams, allow for the unique history of the area to live on through the future of this extraordinary venue. While the project mainly focuses on keeping an industrial aesthetic to honor the locations past, current building plans intend on creating plenty of green spaces for gathering, activities, and flourishing flora.

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As for High Spirits Hospitality’s vision for the venue, we want to create a unique and welcoming space to host a variety of events. We plan to utilize the large indoor event spaces known as the Annex and Smokestack, and the two outdoor lawns to host wedding ceremonies, corporate affairs, and social celebrations. Incorporating the industrial aesthetic and green areas within both spaces offers unique variety for our client’s needs. With our office space located just below the venue we will be able to mitigate any on-site issues with ease. Our operations, finance, sales, marketing, and event departments are staffed with many insightful and passionate individuals who are qualified to address the client’s needs. The Events at Judson Mill is not intended to just be a venue, but a full-service product offering event planning, beverage catering, lay-outs, rentals, security, and much more. Our team has the space, knowledge, and passion, all we need is the client’s vision to make their event a reality.

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