The Lonaconing Silk Mill is the last intact silk mill remaining in the United States. At times called the Klotz Throwing Company, the mill was built in 1905 and operated until 1957 in the small Appalachian Mountain town of Lonaconing, Maryland. A silk mill would wash, steam, stretch, spin, dry and dye raw silk into a useable silk thread. The thread was wound on spools and sold to textile manufacturers which would weave the silk into elegant fabrics popular in ladies fashions of the day. In the early 1900s, Lonaconing, Maryland was on a Cumberland and Pennsylvania Railroad line which connected to the expansive Baltimore and Ohio Railroad giving easy access to a broad transportation network. Nearby coal mines provided plentiful, cheap power for the energy-hungry silk production process, and labor in rural Lonaconing was inexpensive. A silk mill requires a lot of space. Built next to the railroad line, the large brick facility is three stories tall, with huge windows and high ceilings providing a ventilated and well lit workspace.

By 1920 the business had become a important part of the local economy. Lonaconing Silk Mill employed 359 in a mountainous area with few stable employment options. The Great Depression slowed production for a few years. Then World War II interrupted access to raw silk from Japan. After a brief shutdown the mill converted to rayon, a less expensive domestic synthetic silk with similar texture. In the years after World War II, demand for silk and rayon declined reducing sales and production requirements. The number of employees needed at the mill began dropping. Adding to the financial troubles, by the 1950s a lack of investment left the Lonaconing Silk Mill with old, inefficient equipment struggling to compete with newer, automated mills. A labor dispute and strike by frustrated workers was the final blow, and the mill was closed on June 23, 1957. A small crew remained on site for a few years after the shutdown to maintain the building, but the mill never reopened. The impact of the mill’s closure was devastating to the local economy. Despite the natural beauty and scenic valley setting, Lonaconing's economy never recovered and the city's population began a steady decline.

Over the last 50 years, neglect, vandalism, and weather have taken their toll on the historic structure. A leaking roof and broken windows have allowed rain in which has damaged some ceilings and the thick oak floors. Despite this deterioration, the mill equipment and personal effects left by past employees remain, all in a remarkable state of preservation. Were it not for areas with water damage, peeling paint and dust, you could easily believe the workers are simply away during a holiday. The remote location has been the mills best defense against vandals and thieves. For years the current owner has sought outside funding to stabilize the building and preserve the mill. Without a financial infusion, the mill will likely be demolished. Bricks and timber will be reused in stylish construction projects, metals recycled as scrap, and smaller items will be sold off at auction to antique distributors. Some have suggested the historic facility be saved as a museum. Unfortunately, far from major population centers and tourist attractions, no public or private financial sources have been found to preserve the building. Ironically, the intact mill has survived due to its remote location, but eventually it could be lost for the very same reason.

My eye has been increasingly attracted to urban decay. Exploring, researching the history, learning what I can from the past, and photographing the relics that remain. Many don't understand the appeal of a subject like this. But, within the abandoned structures I can still see the vitality of decades past, and a haunting beauty in the rust, crumbing plaster and peeling paint.

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