It was deemed unsafe and not cost effective to try to blend in with the new athletic complex the school system plans to build on the former site of the Patterson Mill, which in its last days of operation produced terry cloth towels.

The school system, however, does plan to use the bricks from the smokestack that was taken down today, spokesman Les Atkins said. “The plan is to create some sort of plaque of remembrance using some of the bricks to honor the people who used to work at the Patterson Mill.”

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Other bricks will be used as fill, Clements said this morning before the 103-feet smokestack was felled by Clements Mechanical, which deployed an excavator and chains in the demolition.

“I think it would be appropriate,” said RRGSD Superintendent Dennis Sawyer on the idea of a memorial. “We will be taking it to the facilities committee. I think it would be a great tribute.”

The mill dates back to the early 1900s. Rex Stainback, who collects vintage postcards from the area, has one of the mill dating back to 1912.

Preparing for the demolition.

Dicey King worked in the mills for 45 years in the industrial engineering department. “I worked a couple of years at the Patterson Plant,” he said as he watched preparations for the demolition.

Until J.P. Stevens came into Roanoke Rapids, the textile mills operated independent of each other, King said, employing some 8,000 people total.

King said watching the smokestack being prepared for demolition saddened him. “It's a shame,” he said, “We don't have anything left representing the textile operations.”

He said he believes there should be some preservation effort so the same thing won't happen to remaining mills in the city.

On the other hand, King, who has been instrumental in youth baseball programs, said he is anxious to see how the athletic complex slated to go on the land will pan out. “I'm glad they're going to be utilizing it.”