For my Industrial Photo today, we are at the remains of the Roswell Manufacturing Company. Roswell King came to this area in Georgia, to grow cotton and to make a mill for manufacturing cotton into shirting. They produced a cloth called onasburg, (a course, heavy fabric), sheeting and yarn. Slaves from his plantation on the coast of Georgia were brought to Roswell to make the mill buildings and most of the buildings in the town, and to work in the cotton fields. At the beginning of the Civil War the company owned two cotton mills, a flour mill, a blacksmith shop, a machinery shop, a general store and small apartment-like dwellings for the 400 mill operators. Most of the mill operators were immigrants from Ireland and were women and children. The workers were not paid in cash, but could turn in their earned coupons at the general store, or other shops, which were owned by the company, for their needs. So the families lived in company housing, worked long, hot hours, six days a week, and could spend their earnings only in the company stores! Not the best of situations I am sure…………but, the way it was in the day. The women and children, who worked here, were glad to have the job. The mill prospered and so did the town…………

Now, this area has been preserved into a park….. In some of the smaller towns, entire old mill housing areas have been restored and the little houses are still lived in……….These areas are classified as Historic Landmarks.

So, what happened to the mill when General Sherman marched his troops to the Sea? He burned down everything in Roswell and when he went to the mills, the women and children were waiting for him outside. When Sherman’s troops found insignias meant for Southern uniforms in the mill, Sherman concluded they were manufacturing uniforms for the South. He rounded up all 400 women and children, declared them traitors, and had them marched off to prison camps in the North. They were never heard from again…..

There are many of these these old manufacturing buildings all over the South, some are big and some are small. This large industrial complex in Atlanta, Georgia, is now the Ponce de Leon Market.

Won’t you join Dr B and The Buddha Walks Into a Wine Bar for the latest challenge?

Photography is one of those activities we can all have fun with and blog about, at home, in the garden, walking the streets, in the countryside, in a museum or gallery ….. the opportunities are endless. You can be a wizard or a novice with a camera or a smartphone, or a crafty manipulator with Photoshop, or Lightroom or Snapseed. It really doesn’t matter how you create your image because in the end it is a work of art, a creation, a memory, and possibly a source of inspiration to others. Blogging your images is easy too, few words needed, let the picture tell the story. And, very importantly in these strange times, it can give us a distraction, a positive focus, connect us with others, and build a community via our blogs. So why not join in, start snapping and sharing with me.

Each week Dr B is selecting a single theme to point his camera at or display a few photos from his collection as a way to brighten up the week as we enter a new year, which we all hope will be brighter than the last. If you would like to join him in #challengeyourcamera then here’s what to do:

1. Follow him to discover the weekly theme he has chosen.
2. Select a few photos related to the week’s theme
3. Post your own photos that week, any day you like.
4. Include a caption with each photo so we know what/where it is
5. Include a ping back/link to his blog in your post so that he is notified, can follow you back and can appreciate and comment on your choices.
6. Include the tag #challengeyourcamera

1. He will follow you back
2. He will encourage other posters to follow you
3. He will list each blogger in my weekly post

Theme #3 INDUSTRIAL

Today, is the third challenge theme, #3 Industrial. So give it a go, challenge your camera with different angles, lighting, time of day etc etc.

This is another photo challenge that is going to be fun! Won’t you join in? CHALLENGE YOUR CAMERA