Judson Mill
National Register Listing
Street Address:
701 Easley Bridge Road, Greenville, SC (Greenville County)
Alternate Name:
Westervelt Mills
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817723084
Description and Narrative:
Located at 701 Easley Bridge Road in Greenville, South Carolina, the Judson Mill complex is set on roughly 36 acres, and contains approximately 819,000 square feet. The site is located just outside of the main business district of Greenville, South Carolina. Judson Mill was listed under National Register Criterion A in the area of industry as an example of the once-thriving textile industry in the Upstate of South Carolina, an area sometimes referred to as the “Textile Crescent.” Originally founded as Westervelt Mills, and developed by John Irving Westervelt, Judson Mill was begun in 1911 and was designed by Lockwood, Greene, and Associates. Following J.I. Westervelt’s resignation in late 1913, the mill’s new president, Bennette E. Geer, renamed the complex Judson Mill, after his mentor and local educator Dr. Charles Judson. Geer would steer the company through many upheavals, including a strike and an ownership change, and retire in 1933 to take the presidency of Furman University. Following Geer’s resignation in 1933, Deering-Milliken took over operation, and eventually ownership, of the Judson property. As the textile industry advanced during and after World War II Deering-Milliken made a series of additions and alterations to the mill complex that allowed the company to innovate. As one of many Deering-Milliken operations, the company expanded the floorplate devoted to research and manufacturing at Judson by tying together many of the distinctive buildings that originally comprised the complex. Judson Mill remained in textile production for Deering-Milliken until 2015. Listed in the National Register February 5, 2018.
Period of Significance:
1911 – 1967
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Industry
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
February 5 2018
