The company was established in 1897 in Concord, south-central Piedmont, primarily by black capitalists in North Carolina, most based in its largest city ofWilmington. To promote the economic security of people of color, they intended to establish a cotton mill to be entirely managed and operated by blacks. At the time, the cotton mills in North Carolina, and the South overall, were white owned and discriminated against black workers. Managers hired blacks only for menial positions. Richard B. Fitzgerald, a major brickmaker and businessman of Durham, North Carolina, was the company's first president; Edward A. Johnson its first vice-president, and Warren Clay Coleman of Concord was its first secretary, treasurer, and manager. The initial board of directors were S. C. Thompson, L. P. Berry, John C. Dancy, federal collector of customs in Wilmington; S. B. Pride, C. F. Meserve, and Robert McRae. About $50,000 was subscribed, which soon increased to $100,000, by "several hundred" African Americans, who mainly lived in the Concord area. A few white philanthropists, such as Benjamin N. Duke, who subscribed $1,000, also invested in the capital stock of the company. Washington Duke, a tobacco magnate, made two $10,000 loans to the company to get construction of the mill underway. The mill was to have between 7,000 and 10,000 spindles, and from 100 to 250 looms. According to their state charter, it was "allowed to spin, weave, manufacture, finish, and sell warps, yarns, cloth, prints, or other fabrics made of cotton, wool, or other material". The mill had "a 270 horse power Corliss engine there and machinery that will compare favorable with any in or around Boston". Coleman was said to have purchased used equipment, described by one source as inefficient "second-hand English" works. This eventually caused production problems. On February 8, 1898, the cornerstone of the 80×120 feet, three-story brick building was laid "with Masonic honors." Several four-room mill houses were built by April 1900, and were rented out at about $3 per month to the workers of the mill. Local black laborers and artisans initially accepted stock as payment for their work in construction of the mill, but most soon decided to accept only cash instead of more stock. Many workers quit due to the inability of Coleman to raise the necessary amount of cash at that time.
Building finished (1901)
The mill building was finally completed in 1901. In July of that year, Coleman informed investor Washington Duke of Durham that the mill was operating successfully. Black workers were hired and had the chance to learn industrial skills. But the mill soon began to have financial problems, mostly due to the high price of cotton, which reduced profits for all manufacturers. In 1902 its operations were temporarily shut down.
Mill closure (1904)
In 1904, the company was unable to remain afloat financially, and was affected by the loss of leadership when Coleman died. Mainly due to these problems, the company officers advertised the mill for sale in July 1904. It was purchased by Washington Duke of Durham for $10,000 at the "sheriff's sale." Duke sold the property in 1906 for $13,000.
Mill structure today
The original mill structure was integrated into Fieldcrest Cannon Plant #9, northeast of the intersection of Main Street and Highway 601 South in Concord.
Legacy and honors
Photographs of the mill and a description were featured in the Negro Exhibit at the Paris Exposition of 1900, in France. The exhibit was organized by American sociologist W. E. B. Du Bois.
In 2001, the section of Highway 601 South near the mill was named "Warren C. Coleman Boulevard" in his honor.
In 2015, the Coleman-Franklin-Cannon Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places for its significance as the first African-American owned and operated textile mill.
