Cigar Factory

The Cigar Factory is a building on the National Historical Register.[1] Located at 701 East Bay Street, Charleston, South Carolina, USA, it was constructed in 1881 and opened in 1882 as the Cotton Mill of Charleston.[2][3] In 1912, it was purchased by the American Cigar Company who converted it into a cigar factory that was the largest private employer in Charleston during the 1930s.[4] In the 1940s, it was the location of the Civil rights strike where the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" emerged.[5]

The Cotton Mill of Charleston opened in late 1882.

Cigar Factory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Cigar Factory
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Location	701 East Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates	32°47′52.0116″N 79°56′4.8078″W
Built	1882
Architect	A. D. Lockwood & Company
Architectural style	Victorian commercial
NRHP reference No.	80003658

A $30 million redevelopment of the structure began in 2014. By 2017, the factory was mostly leased.[6] Current businesses in the building include restaurants, salons, and an event venue.[7]

References

1. "Cigar Factory, Charleston County". National Register Properties in South Carolina. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved Nov 22, 2012.
2. "The Charleston Steam Cotton Mill Now in Operation". Charleston News & Courier. Dec 29, 1882. p. A1.
3. "The New Cotton Mill". Charleston News & Courier. Dec 6, 1881. p. 4 (col. 1). Retrieved Dec 3, 2012.
4. Hill, David (Oct 4, 1983). "Tobacco Factory Has Long History". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B4. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
5. Peterson, Bo (September 21, 2003). "Civil rights anthem rose to prominence in Charleston strike". The Post & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
6. McDermott, John (2017-03-22). "Charleston's landmark Cigar Factory is refinanced". Post and Courier. Retrieved 2020-08-05.
7. "Directory". Cigar Factory. Retrieved 2020-08-05.