Chatham Manufacturing Mill

Chatham Manufacturing Mill is an industrial complex built with brick structures between 1907 and 1954 that once housed multiple production facilities. The site includes a coal trestle and support structures that were essential for running a large manufacturing operation.

The mill started in 1860 as a blanket factory and opened a second facility in Winston-Salem in 1907 to expand production. During the 1930s it shifted focus to automotive upholstery to meet changing market demands.

The site reflects its industrial past through the layout and brick construction of its buildings, which visitors can still observe today. The conversion to apartments has kept the factory structure intact, allowing people to understand how the manufacturing operations once functioned.

The property can be viewed from the outside with the brick buildings and coal transport system clearly visible from the street. The conversion to apartments means interior access may be limited, but visitors can study the exterior and the overall layout of the historic complex.

After World War II the U.S. Government took control of the facility and it manufactured military components under Western Electric from 1946 to 1966. This wartime production phase is often overlooked despite representing a significant chapter in how American industry adapted to national needs.