In the southeastern corner of Rutherford County, North
Carolina, along the Second Broad River, snug up against the Cleveland
County line is the village of Cliffside. Or more accurately, what's
left of the village of Cliffside. It was established about a hundred
years ago and, like many other small textile mill towns of the time,
was built and totally owned by “the company.” All land,
homes and commercial buildings were the property of the mill owner.
Although workers weren't required to live in these “mill houses,”
many did, both for convenience and for economic reasons. (Rents were
in the range of 25¢ per room, per month. Do the math. A four
room house rented for $12.00 a year!)
In the 60's and '70s Cliffside was razed. Only the mill, the churches
and the school were left standing. The homes that had housed generations
of millworkers were torn down, most too substandard to save. Many
of the streets were plowed up and closed. The sights and places that
shaped our early lives are gone.
This website is dedicated to preserving the memories and lore of
the Cliffside we once knew. We welcome your participation. If you
have documents, articles, artifacts, photographs or memories that
you would like to share, we urge you to contribute them.
If you're not a native, and haven't a clue where Cliffside is: 