1901 Letter from R. R. Haynes

It has never been clear to us exactly when certain things occurred at the dawn of Cliffside. Events like the building of the dam, the mill, and the town itself have just been lumped together as if they all happened more or less simultaneously “around 1900.”

Well, according to this revealing letter from Mr. Haynes to his friend, Mr. L. E. Anderson, of Birmingham, Ala., by mid-1901 the walls of the mammoth mill had not even been started! No machinery had been ordered, and would not be anytime soon, and “we have not decided definitely what we will make yet.” What? This from the great visionary?

We’ve highlighted the startling statements. His reference to “our house” is to the mill, and not to his new Cliffside residence, which may or may not have been built at this point. But he already had letterhead stationery!

Letter from the Phillip White Collection.