In the early 1900’s, Duncan Sloan, of Lonaconing, Maryland, learned that the Klotz Throwing Company was searching for a location in western Maryland to establish a silk throwing mill. Sloan proposed Lonaconing as the site for this mill to George Klotz and J.H. Britton and a public meeting including the town’s citizens was held at the Evans Opera House. He and seven other local businessmen were able to secure funds for construction, and the Klotz Throwing Company mill was completed on April 7, 1907. By the Great Depression in the 1930’s, the Klotz Throwing Company had reorganized as the General Textile Mills Company. In 1942, a dispute over a nickel wage increase led to a strike, resulting in operations ceasing at the mill on June 23, 1957, and by July 7, 1957, there were only 5 employees left and the factory was permanently closed.
In 1978, Herb and Betty Crawford purchased the property from the Gentex Corporation (formerly the General Textile Mills Company). In 2007, the George’s Creek Watershed Association nominated the Lonaconing Silk Mill for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. It was also featured in the first statewide list of Endangered Maryland, highlighting historic properties at risk of demolition or collapse. The silk mill was noted as the only remaining silk throwing mill in the United States with its original machinery, company records, and workers’ personal effects intact since its closure. In 2019, the Silk Mill was transferred into the possession of Herb Crawford Jr and his siblings. By 2022, an individual attempted to purchase the property in hopes of renovation but was unsuccessful.
As of 2026, the structure is in such a state of disrepair and dilapidation that it is now a hazard, liability and public nuisance to the town of Lonaconing. A comprehensive plan of action for the acquisition, partial demolition, partial restoration/preservation and modification to the Lonaconing Silk Mill was proposed to the town council, Allegany County, the State of Maryland and other organizations to take on ownership and ultimately, the proposed plan itself. Unfortunately, none accepted the challenge.
It has been 69 years that the Lonaconing Silk Mill has sat in a constant state of stagnancy and hopelessness. The town of Lonaconing is a rapidly declining coal-mining town, where more and more businesses and community venues have shut down since the beginning of COVID-19 and the most recent flood disaster of May 2025. If the community cannot begin to create more opportunities for tourism, recreation and economic development - it will soon join the long list of defunct ghost towns that no longer exist on the map in the United States. The time has passed to save the Silk Mill in its entirety, but it can be approached in a way for a clean slate, while maintaining the George's Creek region heritage.
Through a 3-phase project plan, the final executed vision entails the following:
- Demolition and scrap salvage of the original factory structure
- Retainment and restoration of the newer structure built in 1946 to be used as a museum for the George’s Creek Region history and heritage, including artifacts from the Klotz Throwing Company (i.e. General Textile Mills Company, Lonaconing Silk Mill)
- With the cleared and leveled portions of the property:
- Overflow parking for the baseball field/playground across the street
- Museum parking
- Landscaping
- Pavilion picnic seating area
- Hiking trail connecting up the hill to the old tram road trail
The first and most difficult hurdle of this community project is securing funds for the demolition of the large portion of the building after removing silk throwing machinery and other relics for preservation. The estimate given for demolition is $200,000. Once demolition is complete, this will gain the traction needed to move forward with the help of the Maryland Historical Trust, the Maryland Heritage Area Authority, the Allegany County Historical Society and other organizations that have shown interest in facilitating grant and funding assistance!
With Herb Crawford Jr.'s blessing, this fundraising campaign has been created to achieve this goal and will be documented, monitored and reported with due diligence and at the advisement of the Crawford family.
Please donate what you can - any amount helps. Research, advocate and share this campaign so we can spread the word! The history of the Lonaconing Silk Mill, and the George's Creek region itself, is a rich and unique Appalachian story that deserves to live on in a way that can benefit the community for generations to come!
