Exploring an Abandoned Silk Mill - Time Capsule of American Industry!

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In this episode we're exploring an abandoned mill that has been abandoned and frozen in time for 67 years.
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[@pauladavitt7554]

I love the fact the new owner is working hard to preserve the site. Tho as someone who love vintage textiles I was sad to see the silk left behind

[@SamanthaEatsCookies]

It truly is fascinating to see all the spools left around here and there through the process.

[@semectual]

Hopefully now in this present day, the silk left behind will be reference for other future visitors to see.

[@eily_b]

Absolutely. It's so refreshing to see people NOT turning old factory buildings into "lofts

[@midiwall]

​@@SamanthaEatsCookies- you can buy them through the website he mentions at the end of the video.

[@zyourzgrandzmaz]

Most of what was there was polyester and asbestos 😅 Silk usually entirely disappears by this time of decay because it's a natural material and bacteria bugs and rodents take all of it. If untouched it loses all color within 40 years and turns yellow and frail. So no worries none of that was fine silk

[@Devon-zr8ue]

Herb Crawford was my grandfather and put his heart and everything into preserving this historic place until he got sick and we unfortunately lost him, We are very very happy to see the new owners care as much as he did for the vintage and history behind this building!!

[@cherrios2002]

So very sorry for your loss 😢

[@Shadow6a]

Was he a child of or an employee of this place himself?

[@Devon-zr8ue]

@@Shadow6a ( 0:45 ) He was THE previous caretaker who tried his best to keep it preserved as best as possible

[@Devon-zr8ue]

⁠@@cherrios2002 Thank you ma’am! He lived a very good life though we are proud of him!

[@bobgomez9481]

Herb Crawford was my grandfather too!

[@Lighting_Desk]

Refreshingly good to see someone stepping up to save a building rather than let it rot. The stories that caretaker could have told.

[@alexatkin]

Especially as it looks like it will cost a fortune to repair.

[@Devon-zr8ue]

@@alexatkin I can tell you from what I’ve heard, it’s a HUGE expense

[@robertcrable8774]

My grandfather worked there until it closed. Just locked up the doors. Up until 10 years or so my uncle Leland "Whitey" Folk owned half of it to store his cars in, but he's sadly passed now. We got to tour it once. Did you get to see the giant brass vats where the cocoons were undone?

[@GCF-Media]

What I've enjoyed about the Proper People for the last decade or so is their ability to capture a buildings soul and the grief that came with its closure. The Proper People also do not click bait or have overexaggerating personalities. The Proper People were one influence on my own urbex work and joining the Abandoned Atlas Foundation. Early 20th century buildings just always tend to have a sad feeling about them. Whether it be a tormenting past, or just a sad failure of a business due to economical or other outward forces/situation. It is always worth noting how The Proper People do not vandalize or destroy anything, and keep locations discreet. It's all about the story of a dead place and it's current state. I doubt they'll see this, but thank you for the near decade of entertainment.

[@christycook8422]

I read this and u is so true. They make some good adventures 😊

[@user-yw8sr3uj1w]

100% agree with this!!

[@worldtraveler930]

I second that motion!!! 🤠👍

[@angryrick2330]

cool....no one asked you though.

[@netstormuk]

Exactly, they're called proper people for a reason.

[@CowTown]

So happy to see one of these awesome structures finally get a second life!

[@pamthevan7340]

Love the idea of allowing visits that go to help restore the place. I'd pay.

[@sarahcoleman5269]

I wonder if you can do an interview/tour with the owner like you did with the guy with the steam-powered plant. It might be cool to see what he's done with the place in the last two years, he obviously intended to get it cleaned up. Maybe you can get video of those offices you decided not to go into.

[@joshb124]

glad to see its being preserved! Hopefully they've rebuilt the roof by now.

[@sloanegowans9335]

Unfortunately it has n not been replaced

[@danc3488]

I live 90 minutes east of here and I drove past this place recently and spoke to one of the workers. They are still trying to repair the top floor and the roof, shoring up what's already collapsed. The guy said they've had some trouble but aren't giving up, the owner secured a lot of funding from the locals but they're a long way from finishing. The mill is currently doing historical and paranormal tours, as well. He said the preservation of the other floors has gone as well as could be expected. Nice to see an icon of American industry be saved. I highly recommend you don't go here unless you're doing a tour. There is both camera and personnel security on-site 24/7.

[@rvvanlife]

Have they painted any walls, I'm hoping they leave the walls as is

[@enbyflynn]

@@rvvanlifeid imagine that would depend on if the walls have lead paint or not. If the previous paint could be toxic if it flakes off, they would need to repaint to ensure the safety of anyone entering the building. If they did have to paint them, I'm sure it would be either an exact match, or a color very very similar, just without any hazard

[@rvvanlife]

@@enbyflynn Good point

[@beawriting]

That was neat to see something that old still so intact. I am glad you guys got a chance to record it.

[@Play_fare]

The mill was probably shutdown after the last shift, doors locked, and that was that. With cotton mills, usually the machinery would be removed and sold and all that would be left would be the debris and vast empty spaces. I worked for a time on the redevelopment of an old cotton mill. I had a temporary office in what was once the weave shed. At its peak here were over 1200 looms in operation. I knew nothing of textile mills when I started there, but as I delved into the history of these places and the - the machines, the people, and the role mill life played in the community - I have become keenly interested in all such places. Thank you gentlemen for this extraordinary tour through a fascinating part of industrial history.

[@JessieDadio]

DO we actually know why THAT mill was shut down and not revamped?

[@Devon-zr8ue]

@@JessieDadio Herb always said that it was just shut down, Pretty sure lack of expenses or owner was getting older and didn’t tell anyone

[@Woffy.]

Thanks for the tour. The mill is remarkable complete, I suppose that is because there were no longer any silk or cotton mills interested in machinery. The belt drive you see are called Line Shaft drives and common in Mills and machine shops. I notice a rack of Electric motors so it looks like the mill was slowly changing over to direct drives. Incidentally it has been demonstrated that he power requirements of a line shaft driven mill is less than motor direct drive although maintenance was higher. Amazing that the electrical system and Fluorescent lamps are still working. It nice to have seen the prime mover in the Power house and the rope lofts, a reason to go back.

[@TheSilverShadow17]

This is why I love older buildings. The style, architecture and build quality are unmatched.

[@goklip1]

Lonaconing was my home town and I remember the silk mill well. I remember that there used to be a radio that was left on inside the mill. It was tuned to a local AM station, you could hear the music as you walked by.

[@daffyduk77]

Astonishing to see a factory closed 2 months after I was born, still largely intact. In much of the UK, rain, moisture, wind etc would have caused the place to fall down practically, or rot & rust into nothing. Anyone who's ever worked in a factory, especially decades ago, will find resonances here with this. Amazing the electrics etc are still functioning. I'd expect the silk in the pl;ace, if re-washed/dried, would still have residual value

[@HardPourCorn]

I've worked most of my life in mills like this. It's beautiful. I wonder if this one had an unmarked graveyard out back.

[@nathanchalecki4842]

What's the story behind the graveyards

[@HardPourCorn]

@@nathanchalecki4842 A lot of people would die on the shop floors of old, old textile mills. A lot of places would just bury the body out back and answer questions later.

[@Devon-zr8ue]

I can say that this one does not from what I remember have a graveyard!

[@HardPourCorn]

@@Devon-zr8ue Thank God.

[@nathanchalecki4842]

@@Devon-zr8ue well it would be unmarked so you might not know hahha

[@furious3383]

Note the one working light. A few working lights. It also puts a smile on my face knowing that someone else actually stepped in to save it. Rest in Power to the previous caretaker.

[@lindaelliott184]

The Proper People channel strikes again - always stretching to unique and interesting structures and ways to film them. While I'm not near this location, I'll check back with the mill's web site to see if they give more insight on the mill's history. Very cool to see all of those belt-driven machines, but even better to see this is being preserved. Thanks!

[@1940sDream]

And to think the majority of men who knew how to work all of those intricate pieces have passed on. Can we truly understand every aspect of that incredible machinery, the processes and minutiae? BEAUTIFUL PLACE! My parents were engaged in 1957. LOL. I can't wait to see the photos offered from here! The spools, the glass, that sink, the belts-so much just looks lovely!!!

[@frankintx699]

This reminds me of the time after my high school graduation in 1972 when I worked in a cotton mill with equipment from the 1940s. I worked at three textile mills in the mid-70s in North Carolina.

[@DanEBoyd]

Bigtime kudos to the guy who bought that big old place in the interest of preserving it!!!

[@TheNine6]

Don't ever change that opening song.

[@7000fps]

Yes it is the best!

[@alexatkin]

@@7000fps It always amazes how all the music they use is so well chosen to set the mood.

[@Perspective125]

I LOVE this explore! Freeze frame at 21:15 is really cool. I used to have quite a few old spools of various "threads" on those old wooden spools in various sizes. I won't tell you just how ancient I am, but just know that I've been doing sewing for a lot of decades, and this particular explore hits home for me. How I would have loved seeing everything there in motion, producing everything! Imagine seeing all of the workers there, on the production floors making all of these beautiful threads. Really, thank you from my heart for this one you guys!

[@billbrown5640]

Wow an amazing video and good to see it being restored/kept up again. Far to often history like this get erased due to caretakers passing. Very beautiful building that hopefully will be around for more time for others to see.

[@1959sdl]

Iiving in Kannapolis NC and watching the truly massive Cannon mills leveled and watching the people that worked their whole lives there for generations was sad to see. Thanks Proper People for respecting our history.

[@dillon6026]

My hometown !!!!!!!🎉. This place and seeing it in passing. , the gloom of the roads at night from coal dust all over. And the looming dark tall windows staring down as you pass .... Got me into exploring ... Like the corny old carpendale wv. "Train yard "😂❤ so surreal your in our little towns . Great content as always

[@1940limited]

Notice in the 1957 Calendar Washington's and Lincoln's birthdays were both noted and holidays at the time.

[@grabasandwich]

15:13 Imagine how many injuries happened on these crazy contraptions!

[@ChrisDuplisea]

I have been here several times with a photography group, with permission from the old owner. Very awesome site, glad to see that it is being fixed up.

[@brosch91]

Amazing exploration! I'm happy to hear that the new owner is taking steps to restore and preserve this old silk mill. Whether he can actually restore the mill remains to be seen, but at least he's got the ball rolling. And I'd say that alone deserve some major kudos, when so much of this country's history is just left to sit and rot away a majority of the time. Reminds me of that Waterworks Steam Engine Alex Karnes got working again in one of your past videos, which I hope also gets preserved for years to come.

[@IGNSolar7]

Really love that the owner is letting people explore in a presumably safe way.

[@beachboysandrew]

Yo I’ve been there! I was one of the first people to visit when the new owner reopened it to the public. Highly encourage everyone to visit!

[@joelsieradzan]

My Grandfather used to did work here. One time he told story me a one time when went over to kitchen we into the place to find an old maid living in the cupboard with no limbs and arms, maybe it was some elaborate prank or sort of some new time he was had to get it there for my entertainment. Miss you Grandpa, thanks for all of the great stories. :)

[@TimFilmsCars]

Oh wow...finally a place I've also explored! This place is so neat. Sad to hear about Herb, he was a cool guy. Gave me a spindle from the looms. Awesome video as always!

[@BryanAnger-no6wn]

You must interview the new owner we want to get his perspective, and his futuristic vision for this awesome property. Please find him and do a current up-to-date interview.

[@Watchmaker_Gereon-Schloesser]

yes! great idea!

[@byrn]

Thank you, Herb. Without you none of us would ever have witnessed this place.

[@jamessmith7691]

With all this equipment running off steam boilers , steam engines, jackshafts and belts, could you just imagine being on the maintenance crew keeping this plant alive ? Thanks for taking us along and be safe.

[@jimthesoundman8641]

21:58 An old school way of insulating valve handles which handled steam or hot water. My guess is those were part of the steam heating system.

[@USMC1984]

Thank you guys for what you do! I really appreciate the way you guys video and look into the research of each building and most of you leave it the way you found it!

[@ChristopherHarris6005]

Awesome video as always Proper People. It’s so awesome that the new owner is working so hard to preserve such a unique and historic place.

[@GlamGam1964]

Excellent presentation, Gentlemen! At first I thought I recognized the building (I’m in Michigan) on my travels, but when you said Maryland, I knew I have never seen this specific building. However, since some of the adverse trade agreements in the last 40 or so years, most of our textile manufacturers have gone out of business due to imports of cheap textiles from places such as China, Vietnam, India or Cambodia. I have seen many abandoned textile factories out east. A few have been repurposed (such as into apartment buildings), but mainly they sit silent. It’s sad. A part of our heritage in ruins with shocking numbers of job losses and the importation of inferior goods. Id give about anything to get back to natural fabrics again instead of microfiber and making our own products with the labors of our own people.

[@proconsumersafety]

It is great to hear that the new owner is planning on preservation rather than demolition. This was such a great video. It seems to have had so much old machinery and equipment. Glad it will be preserved and perhaps adaptive re-use. Thank you again for sharing.

[@JeffDeWitt]

Another great video, but I was disappointed we didn't get to see the motor or engine that drove all the belts. I know it would be a bit different than your normal videos but I'd love to see a follow-up with the mill as it is now and seeing the offices and power plant we didn't see this time, perhaps also talking to the new owner. You could also intersperse scenes from this video with the new one showing the changes.

[@dadadadankable]

Dang, it’s been years since since y’all showed up on my feed. Back when RNK AllDay was doing explores too. Cool to see y’all still doing this. I got a ton to watch. Haha.

[@michellephan8539]

Cool

[@DONALDEPPS-f7z]

I enjoyed the video. I wish you could have shown the boiler and the motors that made everything work but I know that you young men did the best that you could do. You still did a great job.

[@zzreaper4499]

the fact this was recorded 2 years ago and is just now being posted is insane, they legit waited until the owner opened it up for viewing was when they finally posted it.

[@TehShizno]

This place is so incredible, a time long forgotten by our generation.

[@tekvax01]

Another very professional video, well done team! You guys likely gave the new owner the idea that others might like to tour and view the mill.

[@letsmooch4857]

The biggest silk mill that ever was is Listers Mill in Bradford, England. It is now apartments.

[@bb58425a]

There is a dark side to these old silk mills. They were known to employ a lot of child labor. The kids could scramble around the spools to maintain the feeds. My now deceased dad worked in a silk mill in the 1920's. He was ten years old and had told me that most everyone was his age or a little older and that it was a sweat shop.

[@Joker-ig8im]

So sorry for your loss. I lost mine at age 9. I bet your father could have written a book about what he went through!

[@uploadJ]

Um, yet, he survived? Were ppl tougher back then?

[@Joker-ig8im]

@@uploadJ I don't think you will find many 10yr olds working in the US these days. It's probably safe to say that the 10yr old children working in silk mill sweat shops during the Great Depression of 1920's America were a little bit tougher than 10yr olds of today. What do you think?

[@BeauQuillen]

@@Joker-ig8im THAT WAS THE GOOD OLD DAYS MY NIGGA💯💯💯💯

[@uploadJ]

@@Joker-ig8im re: "I don't think you will find many " Um, didn't address my questions at all ... Hmmmm. Were ppl tougher back then?

[@robertmailhos8159]

That is awesome that Brian and Michael found this Silk mill thank you for your posting this classic Silk mill Brian and Michael 👍👌

[@jessejames6857]

Idk why but yalls intro song always gets stuck in my head, i be at work just humming it over and over

[@RogerBergqvist]

A good and different video. I myself work in premises that were once, many years ago, a large cotton weaving mill. Today it is all kinds of businesses.

[@CognitiveDissident.]

There's another old mill in MD called Savage Mill where that was done. I haven't been there for a long time, but back in the day it was a really cool place to shop for art and vintage memorabilia.

[@N_g_er]

@@CognitiveDissident.yummy

[@taylorsharp5928]

The pinup on the notepad at 7:22 looks like a George Petty piece. Classy 👌 The belt drive system is called a "Line Shaft" btw.

[@Stellerex]

Nice that the new owner is cool like that. I hope people help him sort stuff and clean up/ preserve the mill with him. Great documenting of it too and all you guys do. I appreciate yalls work thank you.

[@Orin.]

What a great find guys. That building holds a lot of historical value and you can tell judging from the rooms and ofc the workers that used to do their job in that place.

[@vertigo4567]

been watching you guys for like 8 years... still goin strong!!!!

[@jessicagutowski1271]

Let me tell you, those belt drives are no joke. Knew someone that worked at Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. Someone was removed of their noggin because they weren’t paying close enough attention in a belt driven mill. Very sad.

[@juliaperez2098]

Including the sound of the machinery clearing stuff outside was such a cool touch, it gave the sense of how noisy it would’ve been in the factory when everything was up and running

[@louie480]

You have one of the best exploration channels and amazing editing . Come to ARIZONA sometime soon !!

[@cstoner9430]

Love that the new owner wants to preserve this piece of history! Would you guys ever consider submitting a poll where your subscribers get to vote on a location in the future? No details of course, but maybe the type of building, indoor/outdoor, power, hydro, retail, etc...

[@tomahzo]

Fantastic video! As always I love the cinematography, narration and background music :D. Very interesting to learn more about the history of this industry! 7:19 : A notebook date stamped 1945 with a pinup cover. Wow. That's when you say "it was a different time" ;D ;D. 20:15: I had a heart attack when I saw your friend walk the other way when everyone was walking down the stairs ;D. I thought it was a construction worker at first!

[@southernmama9362]

Wow i love the vintage art on those news papers and that note pad and stuff

[@blithesomeboy]

I think YT got my original comment lol so I’ll comment again! It’s been great seeing our local history get covered! I’ve had a fun time reading through what people have to say. As a local it makes me me happy to see others interested in our area

[@vickisawyer7405]

I have one silk shirt, probably not made there. But I think about how many people were replaced by machines and now the machines, factories are being replaced. Progress... Thank you for the video, another lost place. Thank you!

[@classic.cameras]

Can you imagine how hot it was in that Boiler Room. It had to be like an oven.

[@snowcrash512]

Yea it had to be boiling in there.

[@StevenSmith-pt8rz]

Yes, It was I worked in a textile mill like that.In the summer you had people dropping like flies.

[@shawn95187]

Definitely wet and moist in there

[@justinscott3001]

Its amazing that so much is intact after closing 67 years ago

[@1940limited]

The Philadelphia Inquirer was a well known newspaper in the 60s and 70s. They advertised in The New Yorker Magazine. I remember seeing their ads with everyone's nose buried in a copy of the newspaper.

[@WindsEternal]

Amazing find, guys!!! So cool ❤❤❤

[@michaeltolomei6623]

I'd been avoiding your guy's channel not because of anything ya'll did wrong, just hated that many of the places were being torn down so I guess I was avoiding the bad news lol. Really glad to hear this one might be saved. Wish I could get out more to explore, takes so much between time and fuel. everything's so few and far in the west.

[@jamesmcdonald5868]

The big spike looking thing as you guys put it is a reel. It holds a larger amount of thread, which is spun down to the spools. Once a spool is filled, it would be removed and placed on carts and taken to the shipping/processing area to be packed up and then sent out to manufacturing facilities. In other parts of the plant like the areas where there are paddle wheels, the thread is weaved into fabric.

[@freefromit2]

I worked at a place like this that closed suddenly. many years later I was in there, the calendars were all on that month. the workstations empty, the people all gone, but frozen in time. if you see that once it never leaves you. I picture the workers, the kids in the yard, the lives, and that month on the rotting calendar.

[@TheCoolDave]

Wow, what a place.... amazing what was done in the 50's.... thanks for showing.

[@jasonguzman564]

Thanks guys

[@TinyDancer-wz5br]

They don't make light bulbs like those no more, It's amazing how they're still lit.

[@80fcollins]

What a beautiful place, I am so jealous of y'all I would love to do this. Thank you for another stroll through history.

[@hydrolisk1792]

Very nice of you to give a shoutout at the end of the video. Another one under the belt of The Proper People :) Keep it up mates!!

[@SvartaSnuten]

18:05 wowowow I would do anything for that old silk, those fibers look absolutely premium. Hope it didn't get thrown away!

[@MidwestSirenProductions]

It appears there's also an old siren perched atop the building as well, and it appears to be about 10-15 years newer than the building (late 1910s-early 1920s), likely used to signal shift start/stop and breaks. I bet those wooden supports you saw on the top floor were used to prop it up so it doesn't fall through the roof. Amazing video as always guys, glad to see a beautiful time capsule getting some new life.

[@donkeyboy585]

I’ve worked in old factories that had the remnants of the pulley system. That place blows my mind

[@StevenSmith-pt8rz]

Same here friend.

[@alexgreene2477]

Why does y’all intro just go so hard. It’s such a vibe every time I hear it 🙂

[@xX_HaRdBaLLz_Xx]

Imagine back in the day when this place was busy and full of life working all day slaving away here.

[@jombeemeanstroke]

This stuff is so cool. Thank you always for going to these places and documenting this. It's living history of labor and economics and capitalism and it's just awesome.

[@2dogsmowing]

This is how ghost are made. Just imagine being one of the workers outside a catch a glimpse out of the corner of their eye and seeing one of you guys in a window. When the workers are under the impression no one is home. The making of a ghost. 😅

[@apocyldoomer]

After 67 years abandoned, hard to believe the lights still work, very strange!

[@patriciamuller202]

Interesting video guys keep up the good work 😊

[@mathuetax]

Astounding to see a mill that has been inactive for so long and it's not been street mined at all!

[@Sydhavsportalen]

Man I love the intro music. Always knowing that I’m in for a treat. ❤

[@KaiserMeadWorksSpokane]

This was a amazing awesome video like always guys 🤘🤘😎

[@enderdas]

This place looks almost exactly like the main building from the ohio loveland old powder factory. They also used the factory heavily for textiles, linens & diapers after it was used for creating ammunition and gunpowder. Even after making ammo and powder majority of the plant was still filled with insane amounts of machines and chemicals left around mixed in with all the textile machines... I had family that was apart of the K9 unit that helped clean it out so we got to explore a bit... couldnt go down below or up to the third floor as both were falling apart.

[@kellingc]

For some historical context, the Cheney Mills in Manchester, CT started in 1833, and came up with some stuff like Rixforrd Rollers, which you saw in the beginning. They provided most of the silk for parachutes for the paratroopers in WWII. Most of the mill complex has been converted to apartments. It's also why Manchester is known as the Silk City. The Cheney brothers grew their own mulbery tree to raise the gypsy moth so they'd have their own supply of silk. This is why the mulberry trey is on the Manchester Seal.

[@dawnwilliams4625]

Amazing location. Great to hear it will be preserved. Wish there were more stories with that ending.

[@sassysue6472]

This is so cool! Seeing how things used to be done here. Glad history is being preserved.

[@catharinemclaren6629]

love to see that they're preserving the site! that notebook you found was pristine.

[@MrTurboturbine]

You guys should invest in a thermal imaging camera, that way you can identify active sensors and cameras and other equipment, most definitely anything powered will have a heat signature.

[@Foxfire_forty-nine]

They don't even wear respirators or masks to protect themselves from mold, Mildew and other stuff floating in the air or on the walls or kicked up from carpets and floors as they walk across them.

[@WTFIsThisGuyDoing233]

What a perfect way to celebrate the holiday

[@Doomzdayxx]

You guys have tons of great videos, but this has to be the best ever. Thanks to everybody involved.

[@areaone3813]

If our eyes could only see the lives that were powered and gave the life to this place. What a stunning visual timepiece. Thank God it is being saved.

[@srhuhtala]

Wow they must've pumped out product back in their day! Imagine how loud that place was when everything was running