Demolition Of Remerton Mill Has Begun

By Greg Gullberg June 04, 2013

Remerton, GA - A pile of brick and lumber. The steel claws of cranes tear down the Strickland Cotton Mill in Lowndes County, more commonly known as the Remerton Mill. It's the last remaining textile mill in South Georgia.

"Well it breaks my heart and it's so sad and I don't understand why anyone would want a historic old building torn down like this," said Nina King.

King was raised in Remerton, and her father and brother worked in the mill. A demolition request came up in 2012, that's when she helped start a campaign to save it.

"We held meetings and we had people come testify as to what the mill meant to them. And we worked really hard," King said.

"It could have been something like The Riverwalk in Columbus which was built on old mills. Or it could have been like the Old Cotton Exchange in Savannah. But no, they're tearing it down," said John Quarterman, a concerned Lowndes resident.

The mill has been closed for almost a decade. The owner couldn't afford renovations and the city couldn't afford to take it. Now only the smoke stack will remain.

"There are a lot of other people who are very sad and upset about it too. But we don't have the means to buy it and preserve it. So that's the way it goes," said King.

Eyewitness News tried calling the owner, Joe Tillman. Our calls were not returned.

The demolition will take several days.

See the article here:
Demolition Of Remerton Mill Has Begun