Kendall Mill Historic District

Kendall Mill Historic District is an industrial village with 119 buildings, including a four-story brick mill with a tall stair tower on its front face. The site covers 120 acres between railroad tracks and Lakeshore Drive, with a lake and a landscaped park within its boundaries.

The district began in 1899 when the Dekalb Cotton Mill was built, launching industrial growth in Camden and reshaping the local economy. The mill building itself expanded and changed over the following decades as production needs grew.

The village reflects how early industrial communities were organized socially, with different house types showing the clear separation between workers and supervisors. Walking through, you notice how the buildings were deliberately positioned to reinforce these distinctions.

The area is walkable and best explored on foot, with open spaces and trails throughout the park area. Come during cooler months if possible, as most of the visit involves walking between buildings without much shade.

The mill building was designed by W.B. Smith Whaley in Romanesque Revival style and shows construction techniques from the turn of the 20th century. Its detailed brickwork and prominent stair tower reflect specialized building methods used for cotton mills of that era.