Sometimes referred to as Pelham Mill Park, the historical site is grouped with a nice dog park and short walking trail. A stonewall entrance with iron railing begins a short path leading to the rocks below the dam. A simple viewing area is located near the end of the path on the left. It's a small, stone-walled, cleared circular area that has two benches, a dirt covered-barely legible history marker and an almost completely obstructed view of the falls and mill ruins. Simply clearing the small section of shrubbery directly in front of the plateau would give a good view of the falls and dam. It’s surprisingly beautiful once you're among the rocks as the Enoree river rushes past. You can also see some of the old mill ruins on the left and view up at the old dam on the right. There's a short walking trail that's a bit overgrown, but very shady and kind of fits with the feel of the park. It's a bit of rough terrain, but another path leads directly to the old mill for a closer look. Built in 1820, the mill is one of Greenville's oldest landmarks and is believed to be the county’s first ever cotton mill. The mill was originally named The Hutchings Factory after its founder Reverend Thomas Hutchings. It was sold a few times over the decades before being purchased in 1880 giving it the Pelham Mills name. The current dam was completed in 1890. By 1907 there were over 10,000 spindles operated by 300 employes. Mill workers would receive a bill from the mill owners for housing and purchases made at the mill store. If any actual pay was left over, it came in the form of tokens that could be used at the mill store. The factory also employed children during this time, some even under the age of 12. Historians often compare this mill work lifestyle to indentured servitude. The mill had been shut down and vacated by 1943 when a fire destroyed almost the entire mill complex. It was the third fire to destroy a mill on the same property. The few remaining ruins of the mill along with the dam and surrounding area are listed on the National Register of...
Read morePelham Mill Park is a beautiful park with a lot to offer visitors. There are walking trails, a dog park, and the old mill ruins. However, there is one major downside to the park: the creepy men who wait in their cars and stare lewdly at people.
I have been to the park on several occasions and have always seen at least one man sitting in his car, staring at the people who walk by. On one occasion, a man followed me for a short distance before I turned around and confronted him. He quickly drove away, but the experience was unsettling.
Other people have reported similar experiences at the park. One person said that a man rolled down his window and asked them for their phone number. Another person said that a man followed them to their car and tried to talk to them.
I am not sure why these men feel comfortable behaving this way in a public place. It is possible that they think that they can get away with it because the park is not heavily patrolled. Whatever the reason, their behavior is unacceptable and makes people feel unsafe.
Despite the creepy men, Pelham Mill Park is a nice park. However, I would advise people to be aware of their surroundings and to walk in groups if possible.
Here are some tips for staying safe at Pelham Mill Park:
Be aware of your surroundings and stay on well-lit paths. Walk in groups if possible. If you see a man behaving suspiciously, report it to the park staff or the police. Do not give out your personal information to strangers. Trust your gut instinct. If you feel unsafe, leave the park immediately.
I hope that the park authorities will take steps to address the problem of the creepy men at Pelham Mill Park. Until then, I urge everyone to be cautious when...
Read moreNot really much of a park, more of a fascinating old historical site. To the left at the end of the short path leading to the rocks of the falls is a simple viewing area. It's a small, stone-walled, cleared circular area that has two benches, a dirt covered-barely legible history marker and an almost completely obstructed view of the falls and mill ruins. Simply clearing the small section of shrubbery directly in front of the plateau would give a good view of the falls and dam. The view is surprisingly beautiful once you're among the rocks as the river rushes past. You can also see some of the old mill ruins on the left and a view up at the old dam on the right. There's a small walking trail that's a bit overgrown, but very shady and kind of fits with the feel of the park. It's a bit of rough terrain, but you can get a good look at the old mill up close. Built in 1820 the mill is one of Greenville's oldest landmarks and is believed to be its first ever cotton mill. The mill was originally named The Hutchings Factory after its founder Reverend Thomas Hutchings. It was sold a few times over the decades before being purchased in 1880 giving it the Pelham Mills name. By 1940 the mill had been shut down and vacated when a fire destroyed almost the entire mill complex. The few remaining ruins of the mill along with the dam and surrounding area are listed on the National Register of...
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