In 1896 Manchester Mill opened their latest “State of the Art” cotton mill in Lindale, GA. In it’s hay days this single operation produced 1/7th of all textile products in Georgia. The looms ran for 105 years until the plant closed in 2001 because it could no longer compete with offshore producers. Most of the buildings have been demolished to reclaim the brick and heart pine timber. Today what little remains has a new life as a movie set and/or wedding venue, an ironic ending for a place who’s roots are child labor, backbreaking work and lint laden air. As an aside in 1900 18% of all American workers were under 16 years old.