Crompton-Shenandoah Plant, historic textile factory complex located at Waynesboro, Virginia
The Crompton-Shenandoah Plant is a large factory in Waynesboro built starting in 1926 that spread across about 40 acres. The complex contains eleven main brick buildings and eight other structures, each designed for specific functions like dyeing, finishing, chemical storage, and machine repair.
The plant was founded in 1926 and expanded over decades with construction phases continuing through the 1970s. It was known worldwide for producing more corduroy and velveteen fabrics than any other factory before closing in 1982 and later being added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
The plant was the center of working life in Waynesboro, employing over 1,200 people at its peak. The buildings and industrial layout still shape how locals view their town's past, serving as a daily reminder of when textile manufacturing defined the community.
Parts of the site are visible from public roads, but most of the property is privately owned, so visitors should respect the owners' privacy. Plan to view the buildings from outside since the factory is not open for tours and remains an inactive industrial site.
During its peak in the late 1940s, the plant employed over 1,200 workers and was the world's leading producer of corduroy and velveteen fabrics. Despite closing in 1982, the surviving buildings still reveal the scale and specialization of textile work that once filled these rooms.
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