Honoring Southern Heritage: History Comes to Life at October Festival

ALAMANCE, NC – Each October, the Village of Alamance brushes the dust off its history and celebrates the culture of its nineteenth century textile roots. The home site of the EM Holt Mill and Plantation, the Village of Alamance was the first place to manufacture plaid fabrics south of the Mason Dixon line.

“It’s an older than Burlington, Graham and other nearby communities. The history of this place has not been projected as it should. Nothing has been lost. It’s asleep,” said Village of Alamance man Gary Rutledge.

Few villagers will snooze through the Oct. 1 festivities. The third annual Plaid Day, held at the Alamance Lutheran Church ball fields features story telling from the village’s elders, historical walking tours of the mill site and Locust Grove Plantation House, hayrides, crafts, games, live music, southern cuisine, and more. Judging from past years’ events, most residents are likely to wear plaid fabrics in honor of the EM Holt Mill.

In addition to Plaid Day, the village’s visitors often flock to many of the nearby historical sites. The Alamance County Museum is a restored nineteenth century Victorian home, once known as the Locust Grove Plantation House where mill and plantation owner EM Holt lived. The Glencoe Mill Textile Heritage Museum is a short drive from the village, and features a comprehensive profile of machinery from the textile industry, a company store exhibit, restored mill worker homes, and detailed information on the family labor system and life in a mill village. Aside from its contributions to the textile industry, the area is also home of significant Civil War events including the Battle of Alamance, Powell’s Defeat, and Governor Tryon’s March .

The Village of Alamance is within fifty miles of Piedmont Triad International and Raleigh-Durham International airports. Located five miles from interstate 40 and Burlington, NC, the village is within short proximity to major hotel and restaurant accommodations. For more information on Plaid Day, contact the Village of Alamance Town Hall at (336) 229 – 6594.

Located in central North Carolina, the Village of Alamance is a southern town of 310 people, according to the 2000 census. The village has sponsored the annual Plaid Day event since 2005. Alamance County contains 56 sites on the National Register of Historic Places.