Members of the public had the chance to tour the ruins of Canton’s out-of-commission paper mill last week for the first time since it shut down in 2023.
The tour was organized by Haywood County Commission candidate Vicki Hyatt as part of a series of community events highlighting local points of interest. She advertised the tours in her newsletter and on social media and coordinated the mill tour with leadership from Two Banks Development, LLC, a subsidiary of Spirtas International, the company that purchased the property for $3.36 million.
The mill had operated from 1908 until the final whistle in June 2023. It employed generations of Western North Carolinians, providing thousands of families a decent living, but it was also the subject of numerous environmental concerns regarding both air and water quality.
On Aug. 13, Two Banks hosted a pair of one-hour tours that each accommodated 30 visitors. Hyatt ran the sign-up process and said there are about 40 more people still left on a wait list. In an Aug. 17 email, Hyatt said that there will be more tours in about a month, with additional details forthcoming on Two Banks’ social media accounts.
Luke Williams led the tours. Williams worked at the mill 14 years prior to its closing as an engineer assigned to special projects. Once the property sold to Two Banks, he joined that team as the director of engineering.
Williams eagerly brought the groups from room to room, offering words of caution about nearby hazards. He also talked, sometimes waxing nostalgically, about the days when the mill was operational.
The first stop was a small glass case featuring an array paper products bearing well-known logos like Starbucks and Tropicana, all of which had been produced at the mill. Those products were long a point of pride for the workers who churned them out. Williams said he used to point out certain packages in the grocery store to his kids.
“Like, hey kids, look, this is from where Dad works. They’re like, ‘We don’t care,’” he said with a laugh.
The tour progressed into a large room featuring machinery so dusty and disheveled that it was hard to imagine what the machines looked like in action. Williams was bemused by how quiet the large spaces were, indicating that after so many years of constantly running equipment, he would perhaps never get used to the hollow silence. But with his explanations, the visit conjured a scene of what once was — the hum of equipment, the constant movement of workers, the backbone of a rural town’s economy and cultural heritage.
Those who wished to venture into the dank basement got to see where mill workers over the years had marked water lines following floods. There were numerous black ticks up the white column. Williams point up toward the ceiling a few feet above any of the marks.
“See that metal bar up there? That’s where how deep it was [during Helene],” he said.
The basement floor was caked with a layer of hardened, cracked mud. Williams said that, in a sense, the fact that the mill wasn’t in operation during Helene was a blessing. Had it been up and running, the oils, gases and chemicals that would have leached into the Pigeon River would have made what was already a massive environmental disaster that much worse.
Guests had plenty of specific questions about what the huge, hollow spaces looked, smelled and sounded like when they were cranking out tons of paper, which Williams was happy to answer. There were also questions about the property’s future. Williams wasn’t at liberty to answer many of those inquiries, often only providing vague explanations since many plans are still in development. For now, Two Banks is selling off individual items as they can — like a massive boiler currently en route to Mexico — while disposing of anything without resale value.
At the end of the tour, Williams offered some insight into Two Banks’ plans for the former paper mill property. Prior to taking the job in Canton, he’d worked on the Riverside Drive project in Woodfin. He envisions something like that potentially being built along the Pigeon River that can mitigate future floods while beautifying the property.
As for dismantling what’s left after getting rid of what can be sold, Williams said the timeline for the full demolition, which will likely include some controlled implosions, is somewhat dependent on what interest there is from outside developers. If someone wants it done in a year so they can get to work, it’ll be expedited.
Toward the end, Project Manager Michael Ferguson, who also worked at the mill prior to its closure, joined Williams for a quick interview with members of the media. Like many, he’s struggled with its shutdown and the resulting economic and cultural identity questions.
“It’s disheartening, but it’s reality. It’s not coming back,” Ferguson said. “The fact that some of the equipment is being repurposed, that’s a tremendous thing … The other thing is, the other material that doesn’t have a home is being recycled. It’s the best it can be.”
For more images from the tour, view the full gallery here.