Joan Riddle Paris

Mill Villager | Daughter of Sam Riddle, Pastor of Revolution Baptist Church

My brother Sam Riddle Jr ( he was called Junior) worked at Revolution Mill in the Spinning Department around 1947 on second shift. He would go to school from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and then go to work. He worked there for around 10 years. I remember a lot of times he might forget to take his lunch with him and mother would send me to take it to him. Of course I walked and would stand at the gate waiting for him to come out and get it.

My father, Sam Riddle Sr. was pastor of one of the Mill Village’s churches, Revolution Baptist for 13 years. I was 3 years old when we moved into the parsonage at 2218 Shober Street built and provided for by the Cone family. That is where I grew up.
I feel so blessed to have grown up in the Mill Village. One of the blessings was growing up with, playing with, going to school and church with the same friends and those friendships last a lifetime. I loved the neighborhood and we were actually neighbors and I knew about everyone in the neighborhood. I remember being outside playing and at 3:00 o’clock the whistle would blow. About 15 or 20 minutes later I would see the workers coming up the street for home. They would go into the house and take a bath and then come out on the porch to relax. I would always take off and go to see one of them and sit on the step and chat.

It was such a carefree time, staying outside playing until we were called in and many times way after dark. None of us had a whole lot as far as wealth but all the mill workers were hard workers and never complained and were thankful. As a result the children learned what hard work was, respect for others and property.

Another memory was the cinnamon buns that were made in the Revolution Company Store and were taken to the mill to sell. On our way walking to Proximity School some of us girls would go around to the basement where the kitchen was and knocked on the door. The lady would come with a tray full of the buns and sell us one for a nickel. They were the best and I have never tasted anything like them since and they were big.

Of course there was McAdoo Heights where we could buy about anything we needed. Groceries, sewing goods, shoe repair, barber shop, beauty shop, dime store, soda shop, drug store, gas station, doctor’s office, and some I can’t remember but all within walking distance. No cars were needed in the Mill Villages.

My only bad memory was the day we left that house on Shober Street to move away.