Photo of The Month – Feb 2013

Henrietta Church

Picture contributor: Joe Young via Phillip White

This photo was taken over a hundred years ago, based on [Henrietta’s] First Baptist being across the street from it’s current location and is wooden. It was taken on the side of the mill towards the church, looking southwest, and shows the old bridge and mill houses. It is the only one to our knowledge. It belonged to my wife’s grandmother, the late Leona Tessnear of Henrietta. Leona used to tell the story of how historic groups and churches begged for the photo but she refused. Upon her death in 2011 the original photo became the possession of my wife, Julie. She asked that I make a copy to donate to the church in honor of her grandparents Tom and Leona Tessnear. She also asked that we share it with your group and those that help us in our book we are working on of mill towns in their honor.

—Joe Young 

Joe Young is a photographer from Hickory, N.C. On his very attractive Web site there’s a collection of fine photos of old mills and textile towns of the past, including several scenes of Cliffside, which Joe captured when he visited our town last summer.