Peerless Woolen Mills a part of Rossville’s history and future

Peerless Mills off McFarland Avenue in Rossville has long been a key player in the history and economy of Rossville, and inspired by plans for the city’s downtown revitalization, may become so once again in the city’s not so distant future.

In 1905, the same year Rossville was incorporated, John L. Hutcherson Sr. established Peerless Woolen Mills, which was the primary manufacturer for blankets for the armed forces during World War II. Peerless claimed to be the largest single-unit mill in the world by the 1950s.

In 1952, however, the Hutcherson family sold Peerless Woolen Mills to Burlington Industries. Textile workers in Rossville began to feel the strain from competition in overseas markets and voted to unionize in August 1961. Burlington industries, however, was against organized labor and made plans to close by the end of that year.

Moving forward, dozens of smaller textile-related companies purchased the plant and leased out the space. A large chunk of it burned down in 1967 after a fire broke out from a malfunctioning piece of equipment.

The next time you drive down McFarland Avenue, take a look out your window, as the mills are still busy from the street. It is unsafe, however, to enter the mill property, but it is viewable safely from the street. It was purchased by the Hutcherson family in the year 2012, and in 2017 was sold to Steven Henry at auction for $125,000.

Rossville was known years ago for being a hot spot for shopping and tourism. After the mill burnt down, however, things began to dip economically, socially, and developmen- tally. Several citizens, however, hope to change that.

Henry, when asked what he wanted to do with it, said in an interview with the Walker County Mes- senger in 2017, “I want it to be part of the ongoing efforts to revitalize Rossville.” Speculation on the future of the old mill includes everything from condominiums or town houses, to a modern apartment complex with first floor shops and stores, much like what is found in downtown Chattanooga.

So perhaps the old mill will become Rossville’s Phoenix, rising from the ashes to a new and glorious future for Rossville and all of Walker County.