On Saturday, my family gathered at my sister’s to enjoy hot dogs and hamburgers in honor of Daddy and the other dads in our family. And in a bit of great timing, I happened to be headed back home just in time to visit the grand opening of Sewell Market Co., located in the building once operated as Sewell Manufacturing Co. in Bremen. My area of West Georgia is sometimes known as the “Textile Trail” because it was home to so many clothing manufacturers—Sewell’s was still stitching men’s suits when my family moved to the county in the seventies—as well as manufacturers of textiles like carpets and chenille bedspreads. I would occasionally pass by this long-closed old building and wonder if it would ever be used again. Happily, it's back in business.
I walked in the doors and thought, “Oh, wow!” There’s a small coffee area to the left, but I did my usual route in an antique mall and started on the right and worked my way through. I’m glad I did, because the prime real estate along the far-right wall is devoted to displays featuring the company’s sewing history.
I loved this wall with its old photos. Daddy had asked me to call him after I visited and let him know if he and his lady friend should stop by, and I told him yes, I think they would like it. Daddy doesn’t like to see a lot of new stuff in antique malls (neither do I, usually), but this is by design a mixed-use operation, and I think they will enjoy the history as well as the antiques.
Some things I thought you would enjoy seeing include these blue dishes …
Vintage linens.
And some silver-plate wares.
What did I come home with? Just two things from this quick visit, a vintage heart-shaped pan and a rosy textile they described as a handkerchief, but I think it’s really a vintage tea towel. I greatly enjoyed my first visit to Sewell Market Co. and noted that because of its blend of old and new, this will be a wonderful place to shop for Christmas gifts.
And of course, getting to celebrate an early Father’s Day with my dad made the day extra special!
Seeing old buildings given new purpose (while remembering their history) is indeed a good thing!
ReplyDeleteI agree! I think they are win-win situations for the communities they are in.
DeleteWe have a lot of old mills near me. I love it when they are repurposed into something and not just sitting abandoned.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know that! Can you give me some names? (If you have time someday. No rush. I'm just interested in textile history.)
DeleteI had to laugh....saw that picture of those blue dishes and thought "hmmm....that first plate on the left is a Spode(because I have three with the same border that I bought years ago at the Spode factory in England) and and I have two of that third one"..... LOL!!!! Does that tell you how long I've been looking at blue plates??
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