Browse Items (215 total)

A letter from a mechanical engineer at Virginia Tech explaining the required dimensions of a part for the mill.

A letter from the principal of the high school informing the mill adminstration that a tank in the Home Economics Cottage had begun to leak.

A letter from the principal of the high school asking for scrap cloth to clean the school.

A photograph of Ronni Michelle Criner as "Little Miss Fries" in a town parade.

A photograph of employees eating in the mill cafeteria, with a "Zero Defects Our Goal" banner in the backround

4th from the back: Boyd "Mac" Tsom

Betty Thornton, Betty Sexton, Lela Funk, Ruth Reever, and Kate Byrd

6 people pose for a picture, the interior tow shaking hands and holding a paper

A map showing plots of land aquired by the Washington Mills Company to build the Fries Textile Mill and the Town of Fries as of 1948.

A map showing plots of land aquired by the Washington Mills Company to build the Fries Textile Mill and the Town of Fries as of 1901.

A photograph of a young woman working on a machine winding bobbins.

Marie Pearman and Page Durhan hold a coffee set

A memorandum from a surveyor regarding work he was contracted to do for the mill.

A memo sent to all departments notifying them that the Fries Mill would shut down knitting operations.

A short missive from the president of Wachovia Loan and Trust Company and the founder and president of Washington Mills Company, Col. Francis H. Fries, thanking the mill superintendent for sending updates about operations. Includes and example of the…

A page from a mill ledger recording employee contributions to the Methodist Church in Fries, which they could have deducted from their paychecks.

A photograph of "Miss Fries High School" of 1978 and two runners-up.

A photograph of a musical group performing at an event honoring those employees who had worked at the mill for 25 years.

A photograph of a musical group performing at an event honoring those employees who had worked at the mill for 25 years.

Nancy Reed in front of a calendar

A note from a surveyor hired by the mill

A letter introducing a new mill employee, sent to the Fries Mill from another mill owned by the Washington Mills Company.

A photograph of a mill employee posing with holiday decorations in the mill.

A textile mill employee stands between two other men, whose heads have been cut out of the picture.

Walter Johnson and Bill Barker present a plaque to an employee

A photograph of Billy Funk holding a plaque while a man gives a speech and G.W. "Cobb" Archer and Flash Turner watch.

A map showing the intended layout for the mill.

A map of a surveyed parcel of land owned by the Washington Mills Company on which the YMCA stands.

A map of a piece of land in Fries being sold by the Washington Mills Company to James E. Robinson Jr.

A map of surveyed parcels of land owned by the Washington Mills Company.

A map of a piece of land in Fries giving landmarks by which a survey could be conducted.

A map of a piece of land in Fries giving landmarks by which a survey could be conducted.

A map of a piece of land in Fries being repurposed, and a propsed alternate location for carrying out the original purpose of the property being sold.

Ruth Durham recieves a prize from Frank Richie on stage in front of a crowd

A photograph of Frank Ritchie presenting a prize to Edna Kirby Vaughan on stage while a crowd watches at a mill-sponsored event.

A photograph of two mill employees responsible for transferring yarn bobbins from one stage to another.

A document from a electoral judge for the Town of Fries, Va.

The Fries Textile Mill oversaw the local YMCA as well, including the interior design of the building. Here, we see plans for redecorating the public spaces, dated May 24th, 1949.

The Fries Textile Mill oversaw the local YMCA as well, including the interior design of the building. Here, we see plans for redecorating the public spaces, dated May 24th, 1949.

The Fries Textile Mill oversaw the local YMCA as well, including the interior design of the building. Here, we see plans for redecorating the public spaces, dated May 24th, 1949.

A letter from a pharmacist in Galax, VA, reporting on unpayed accounts of mill employees for prescription drugs.

Three men stand together, facing the camera, in front of textile machinery.

A map of a piece of land in Fries giving landmarks by which a survey could be conducted.

A photograph of Sena Funk monitoring woven fabric being wound