The Greenville Coach Factory Blacksmith Shop, constructed around 1850, is one of the oldest surviving industrial buildings in downtown Greenville, South Carolina. Located along the Reedy River, this three-and-a-half-story structure was originally part of a larger complex established by Ebenezer Gower and Thomas Cox in 1835. Their enterprise, known as the Greenville Coach Factory, became one of the largest carriage manufacturers in the South, employing up to 100 workers by 1856.

The blacksmith shop was integral to the factory’s operations, providing essential forging and metalworking services for the production of carriages and wagons. Notably, the building was constructed without nails, utilizing handmade brick and hand-hewn wooden framing members. Its design includes large windows with crude wooden lintels and a hoisting shaft with early rope-operated iron gears, axles, and pulleys still attached to the ceiling inside.

In 1911, the Greenville Coach Factory ceased operations, and the building was repurposed for various uses over the years. Today, it is part of the Reedy River Industrial Complex, a historic district that reflects Greenville’s industrial heritage. The complex includes other notable structures such as the Huguenot Mill, Markley Carriage Factory Paint Shop, and Markley Hardware Store, all contributing to the city’s development into a leading manufacturing and textile center.

The Greenville Coach Factory Blacksmith Shop stands as a testament to the city’s rich industrial past and the craftsmanship that fueled its growth.