Spanning roughly 31 acres at 113 Mill Street in Taylors, the Southern Bleachery and Print Works was built between 1924 and 1952 by the J.E. Sirrine Company, and formally listed on the National Register of Historic Places in July 2012. Originally established by former Furman English professor Bennette Geer under the patronage of industrialist James B. Duke, the bleachery served as a finishing plant—bleaching, dyeing, and printing textile goods supplied from surrounding cotton mills.

At its peak, the facility encompassed over 827,000 square feet, including a sprawling main mill, warehouses, boiler rooms with smokestacks, filtration works, and even two ponds. More than just a factory, it spawned an entire mill village—complete with mill houses, Baptist and Methodist churches, a general store, recreational facilities like baseball fields and a nine-hole golf course, and even a tennis court—cementing its role as the social and economic hub of the community.

From 1924 until its closure in 1965, the Southern Bleachery employed over 1,000 workers, navigating tumultuous times while supporting the regional economy. During the Great Depression, for instance, management chose to reduce work hours rather than lay off employees; during World War II, the plant pivoted to manufacturing materials for the war effort.

Following its closure, the mill sat mostly vacant for nearly fifty years, with only minor industrial use, until local developers Taylors Mill Development, LLP acquired most of the property in 2015. Since then, the complex—now known as Taylors Mill or the Southern Bleachery Venue—has been transformed into a vibrant mixed-use destination. The site hosts artist studios, a coffee shop, brewery, restaurant, event venues, recreation, and a marketplace, all housed within restored historic buildings conforming to National Park Service preservation standards.

Today, Taylors Mill functions as a gathering place blending old and new. With open light-filled halls, original oak floorboards, mill-style windows, and industrial charm, it hosts weddings, community festivals, local artisans, restaurants, and unique entertainment like arcades, a model train station, and hatchet-throwing lanes.