Photo of The Month – Aug 2007

Summer Garden

Picture contributor: Sherry Harris Phelps

For years R.B. Watkins was in charge of public gardens and landscaping in the town of Cliffside. He must have worked overtime this summer putting shrubs and flowers around the mill. And those elephant ears! What a pleasant setting for the group of workers to pose in. The photographer stood on the elevated walkway to the entrance of the mill’s second floor.

Way up the hill are two men—one sitting, one standing—beside the door of Mr. Watkins’ office. Perhaps one is R.B. himself. We know the photo was made after 1909 (the store building was there) and before 1920 (the Memorial Building wasn’t). Always, when photography was going on, mill workers would sense it and gather at the windows.

Study the closeups. See any relatives?

The man at left in the black hat looking toward the mill looks very much like R.B. Watkins.