Upstream: NC 42 Bridge

69-5 Enterprise Mills (Coleridge)

Downstream: Siler’s Shoal

The Hughes map shows Hargrove Saw Mill near here with the date 1779, although Blair (1890) says that this was originally the site of Foust’s Mill.

A new dam was built here in 1858 (Swain 1899) for the Burgess Mill, as shown on the 1873 Bean Map of Randolph County. The mortared stone dam was about 4 feet high and 360 feet long with a 250 yard race creating a 20 foot head.

The location was apparently still commonly known as Foust's Mill in 1880, but it belonged to the Enterprise Manunfacturing Company by that time (Swain 1880). The Enterprise Manufacturing Company was organized by H. A. Moffitt, Daniel Lambert, and James A. Cole. Swain states that there was a cotton mill, sawmill and gristmill here in 1880, but the 2.5 story, 800 spindle frame mill burned down in 1881 (Chatham Record 6-15-1881.) Blair says a cotton mill was built here in 1883, apparently replacing the one that burned in 1881. The area came to be known as Cole’s Ridge, after investor James A. Cole.

By 1904, Cole’s nephew, Dr. R. L. Caviness, had bought the mill and in 1918 he built a new mill and dam at Coleridge using 12 million bags of cement (Asheboro Courier 1-18-1918.) The new dam was 600 feet long and must be somewhat downstream of the previous dam. Dr. Caviness also founded the Coleridge Manufacturing Company which made chairs. The Enterprise Roller Mill ground wheat with steel rollers producing “Our Leader” brand flour.

By the 1950’s, the mill had 150 workers and 6,000 spindles manufacturing yarn and twine. The Caviness heirs sold the mill to Boaz Mills of Alabama in 1954, but the mill was closed for good in 1958.

Otherwise unattributed information comes from Mac Whatley, the premier historian of the Randolph County textile mills. His help is gratefully acknowledged.