Carr Mill Mall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Alberta Mill Complex
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Carr Mill Mall exterior
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 Location in North Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 200 North Greensboro Street, Carrboro, North Carolina |
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| Area | 10 acres (4.0 ha) |
| Built | 1882 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001332 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1976 |
Carr Mill Mall is a cool local shopping center in Carrboro, North Carolina. It's not just a place to shop; it's also a historic building! It's officially known as the Alberta Mill Complex and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important place with a lot of history. The mall also hosts many fun local events and live shows.
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A Look Back: The History of Carr Mill Mall
From Cotton Mill to Shopping Center
The building that is now Carr Mill Mall was first built in 1898. A man named Thomas F. Lloyd built it. Back then, it wasn't a mall at all! It was a busy factory called the Alberta Cotton Mill. Here, they made cotton products.
Later, around 1913, the mill changed what it made. It became one of the biggest makers of hardwood cross-ties in the world. Cross-ties are the wooden beams that go under train tracks. These ties were shipped out on trains right next to the mill. These same train tracks still run past Carrboro today, all the way to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
The Carr Family and a New Name
In 1909, the mill was bought by the Julian Carr family. They were important in the area. In 1913, the town of West End, where the mill was located, got a new name. It was renamed "Venable" to honor Francis Preston Venable, who was the president of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill at that time.
The mill eventually closed down by 1930. It reopened in 1945 and kept running until the 1960s.
Saving a Historic Building
In 1974, the local government in Carrboro wanted to tear the old mill building down. Their plan was to build a new shopping mall there. But the community didn't like this idea! Many people spoke up and wanted to save the historic building.
Because of this strong community support, the plan to tear it down was stopped. Instead, the old mill complex was fixed up and changed. It reopened as Carr Mill Mall. Today, the mall has many different restaurants and stores. There are also offices on the upper floors.
One of the main businesses in the mall is Weaver Street Market. This is a local grocery store that is owned by its customers. Weaver Street Market also helps put on many outdoor events and performances on the lawn in front of Carr Mill Mall.
A Song Inspired by the Trains
Did you know a famous song was inspired by the trains that served Carr Mill? The song "Freight Train" was written by Elizabeth Cotten, also known as 'Libba' Cotten. She wrote the song when she was a young teenager in the early 1900s. The song was inspired by the train that ran on the tracks past her house on Lloyd Street. These trains were important for the Carr Mill, carrying goods and materials.
