Little Red Mill House

This little house near Spring Garden and Merritt Drive, likely, was a mill house. Recently, Pamona Cotton Mill, within view of this little red house at 3707 Melvin Place, was torn down after 110 years. For nearly a century, people worked the mill and walked to nearby homes like this one. Back in the day, people gathered on porches and shared stories about working in the mills. Barbara Presnell captures these years in her poem, "Piece Work." We like the snipet Steve Summerford, Assistant Director Greensboro Public Library, shares on a News & Record webpage:

Ten years he's worked that same machine,

and not one time complained........

He gardens on the lot beside his doublewide.

Corn, tomatoes, beans. His wife works nights

at the nursing home, changing diapers, giving baths.

Some days she comes home crying, another one gone,

and another.

-- from "Velma and Bud on First Break at the Mill"

It takes a confident person to paint one's little house red. Do you think maybe Bud surprised Velma and painted it her favorite color...... just because? Bud, Velma, and the mill have moved on. The little red house on Melvin Place remains. 

Here's to sharing with you guys over at Ruby Tuesday.

 

Comments

[Jane Mitchell]

Love your commentaries. You make "back in the day" come to life.

[storyteller at Small Reflections]

What a marvelous RUBY find ;-)
Hugs and blessings,

[Alice]

Well, I've lived here all my life, and never saw "Bud and Velma's" little red house. What a lovely commentary!

[Sherry Holland]

Hello this house is a old mill house , but the owner painted this house in the late ninties. Grest story it's only been red about thirteen years. The owner is my husband.