Conestee Mill, textile mill in Conestee, South Carolina, United States
Conestee Mill is a large brick complex built beside the Reedy River, about 8 miles south of Greenville. The site includes the main mill building constructed in 1884, expanded in 1898 with a new water race and turbines, and a separate store building added between 1913 and 1920 that served workers and the community.
The first mill was founded before 1837 by Vardry McBee and produced paper, wool, and cotton cloth for the local region. The main 1884 building was expanded in 1898 with modern water-powered equipment, and the operation continued until the early 1970s before standing vacant for many years.
The mill once served as the economic center of the local community, providing jobs and electricity to surrounding villages before Greenville had its own power supply. Today it remains a symbol of the area's industrial roots and attracts visitors interested in understanding how manufacturing shaped daily life here.
The site is now part of Lake Conestee Nature Park with extensive walking and biking trails for visitors to explore. Water access is restricted for safety reasons, and the park is popular for bird watching and school field trips.
Before Greenville had electricity, the Conestee dam powered the community with electricity, making it one of the earliest places with power in the region. The dam was rebuilt multiple times throughout the 1800s and repaired after a major flood in 1908.
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