For today, Monday, the beginning of the work week, we feature the Wrangler Building on Elm Street. Wrangler, and parent company VF Corporation, are headquartered in Greensboro. The Wrangler name, known for authentic western jeans, was introduced to the consumer in 1947; however, the company's seed was planted in 1897 when Mr. CC Hudson relocated to Greensboro. Mr. Hudson arrived from Tennessee, seeking his fortune in our emerging textile town. His first job here was sewing buttons on overalls, earning 25 cents a day.
In 1904, Hudson opened Hudson Overall Company above Coe Brothers Grocery on Elm Street. The company expanded and became Blue Bell Overall Company. Big Ben Manufacturing Company purchased Blue Bell in 1926. The merged companies remained in Greensboro. Blue Bell continued to merge, acquire and grow; eventually evolving into Wrangler. A great timeline with photos of this important piece of history is provided on Wrangler's website, here. Hopefully, Greensboro social studies teachers share this timeline with their students. For over a century, the textile industry has been an important part of our city's history and Wrangler has been a part of Greensboro's history since the 1940's.
I always think of the Blue Bell Building as being on the corner of Elm and Lee Street. I believe it is now used for offices. Maybe some viewer will set me straight.
Posted by: Jane Mitchell | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 12:15 PM
Very interesting history. They have a very neat-looking and impressive HQ.
Posted by: Hilda | Monday, January 25, 2010 at 10:46 PM