Discover Startex

Startex has a clear historical focus centered on the Tucapau Mill, the Startex-Tucapau Mill Village, and the Middle Tyger River. If you’re looking for hotels in Startex, this thematic framework can help you plan your stay around your interests in industrial history, village development, or historic structures. The dates belong to different chapters: mill operations, the village’s growth, church history, and commemorative heritage.

From the River to the Tucapau Mill

The Tucapau Mill opened in 1896 on the Middle Tyger River near Penny Shoals. It produced cotton fabric using a waterwheel powered by the river. The river and its energy source were therefore part of the mill’s production history. In 1902, a dam and a power plant were built at Penny Shoals. The years 1896 and 1902 mark two different steps: first the opening of the mill, then, six years later, the construction of the two facilities. This provides a more precise picture of the early development than a single date would.

The Startex-Tucapau Mill Village

At first, the Startex-Tucapau Mill Village consisted of one store, one school, and 33 houses; later, it had 350 houses. The comparison makes the change in the village’s size tangible. The village was self-sufficient and had a store, a post office, a movie theater, a café, churches, and a three-story community building. These facilities illustrate different aspects of village life at the time: services and communication, as well as shared spaces and recreation.

In 1936, Walter Montgomery bought the mill and changed its name to Startex. The name thus marks a distinct chapter in the mill’s history. At the height of its development, the Tucapau Mill employed 1,100 workers in the 1960s. This figure adds a different perspective to the information about the houses: it describes factory employment at the time, not the size of the village. The mill closed in 1997; its purchase and renaming, peak employment, and closure mark different periods in its history.

Explore a Southern mill town and the role of industry in the lives of the people of Tucapau

The Startex-Tucapau Tour offers the opportunity to explore a Southern mill town and see the major role industry played in the lives of the people of Tucapau.

Church and Memorial Sites

The Tucapau Baptist Church of Startex was founded on February 18, 1898. It officially moved into its current church building on September 4, 1949. The dates refer to two different events: the founding of the church and its official move into the current building. They should therefore not be read as a single construction date.

The Startex-Tucapau time capsule was dedicated on September 18, 2016, and is scheduled to be opened on June 1, 2046. A historic commemorative marker for the Tucapau Mill is located at the northeast corner of Startex Drive and Spartanburg Road in Startex. While the time capsule links a dedication with a scheduled opening date, the marker’s precise location provides a specific point of reference for the mill’s history.

The Startex Iron Bridge

The Startex Iron Bridge was built in the early 20th century and spans the Middle Tyger River. A 2022 description gives its span as 250 feet and also describes the bridge’s deterioration. Its connection to the river ties it thematically to the mill’s history, while the structures illustrate different aspects: harnessing water power for cotton production and crossing the river. If you plan to visit the bridge, check current access in advance.

On April 6, 2023, the South Carolina General Assembly adopted a Concurrent Resolution requesting that the bridge over the Middle Tyger River on Main Street in Startex be named the “Fitzhugh David Powers Memorial Bridge.”

Discover more destinations: Boiling Springs, Spartanburg, Reidville, Lyman, Duncan, Wellford.

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