The failure of local businesses was just a sign of the depression that gripped the nation from 1893 until around
1897. Glasgow survived as most all other towns did, by just doing the best they could. James River Cement
Works, one of the area's major industries, survived the bust only to close in 1907. Later came the Locher Clay
Products and then later becoming General Shale Brick Co.
The Virginia Electrical Power Company (VEPCO) built a hydroelectric plant at Balcony Falls in 1915 to meet
the electric needs of the area. The plant was in operation until 1969. The dam provided many recreational
opportunities on the James and Maury Rivers. Citing concerns that the devastating flood in 1969 probably
would not have been as bad if the dam were not there. Citizens of Glasgow petitioned to have the dam
removed. In 1974 VEPCO removed the dam.
In 1934, the Blue Ridge Company (James Lees & Sons) built a carpet weaving plant on about 100 acres of
land that boarded the Maury River. Production of carpet started in July of 1935 and the first order was shipped
on September 10, 1935. By the end of 1936 the weaving mill had doubled in size and James Lee & Son
began construction of Axminster Mill in 1941. With the United States entry into World War II construction was
not completed until 1945. During the war years, the plant went from producing carpet to producing canvass duct
for the armed forces. Four hundred women had to take the place of the men who left to fight in the war. During
that time the plant ran 24 hours a day seven days a week. After the completion of the Axminster mills in 1945
the company began building the yarn mill and the dye house. Both of those were completed and started
operation in 1947. James Lees & Sons continued to expand the facility. From 1948 to 1953 additions were
added to Wilton, velvet and Axminster mills and an industrial waste plant was built to curb the pollution flowing
into the Maury River. In 1954, the plant doubled the size of the yarn mill.
In 1960, James Lee & Son became part of Burlington Industries, which, at the time, was the largest textile
manufacturer in the world. In the 1980's, Burlington Industries had to fight a hostile take-over in which resulted in
downsizing of the company. In 2002, Burlington Industries filed for bankruptcy and Mohawk Industries
purchased the Lee's Carpet facility. This 1.5 million square feet (that's 34 acres) facility is the largest carpet
manufacturing plant under one roof in the United States. Mohawk Industries employs approximately 1300
people, and operates 24 Hours a day to design, test, market, produce, and distribute " The World's Best
Looking, Best Performing Commercial Carpet."
Heavy rains in late January,1854 left the James River and the treacherous Balcony Falls in full flood. On 21
January, the canal boat "Clinton" and it's passengers became stranded in the raging waters. Frank Padgett, a
skilled boatman and slave, led four other men to rescue them. In an heroic attempt to save the last passenger,
Padgett drowned, unable to fight the rushing current. Captain Edward Echols, who witnessed Padgett's act,
was so moved he commissioned the construction of a granite obelisk monument beside lock 16 of the Blue
Ridge canal. It now stands here in Glasgow's Centennial Park
The text above is from the historical marker erected in 2003 in Centennial Park on Blue Ridge Road. The
wording was written by local high school student. Frank Padget, an African American resident, saved many
lives before losing his own. His story is one of selfless action in the face of grave danger.
Two major rivers, the Maury and the James, and Salling’s Mountain surround Glasgow, making the Town
prone to have problems with flooding. The earliest recorded flood that occurred in 1877. Damage was
recorded to the railroads, the Kanawha Canal, and the James River Cement plant. Other recorded floods
include 1936, 1950, 1969,1972,1985,and 1995. With the floods of 1936, 1969 and 1985 being the worst, with
the Maury and the James overflowing their banks.
The flood of 1936 was particularly devastating because there were many new residents living in the Town at
the time due to the opening of the new carpet factory. The flood was caused by rain from the remnants of
Hurricane Hazel. More than four inches of rain fell in a two-day period on already saturated ground. The James
crested 11:00 pm on March 17th. Locher’s brick plant was several feet under water as was the Greenlee
Bridge in Natural Bridge Station. In Buchanan, the James crested at 26.8 feet, 9.8 feet above flood stage.
There was no report of the Maury River leaving its banks in Buena Vista during this flood.
The flood of 1969 seems to be the flood that most Glasgow residents say was the worst in history. Remnants
of Hurricane Camille dumped an average of 12 to 20 inches of rain in a 3 to 5 hour period in the mountains of
Virginia after making land fall in Mississippi two days before. The ensuing flash floods took the lives of more
than a 117 Virginia residents. Seven of those that were killed came from the Glasgow area. This was the
worst flash flooding event that Virginia has ever seen. The James River in Buchanan, crested at 23.4 feet, 6.4
above flood stage, and the Maury River crested at a record 31.2 feet in Buena Vista, 14.2 feet above flood
stage.
The flood of 1985, known as the Election Day flood, was caused by the remnants of Hurricane Juan on
November 4th. Roanoke recorded a record rain of 6.63 inches in a 24-hour period and it rained continually for
six days. Even though many polling places were relocated throughout the state, flooding was a major issue to
many voters. Glasgow recorded one of its lowest voter turnouts in years. In Glasgow, both the James and the
Maury were rising. The James flood level in Buchanan was a record 38.8 feet, 21.8 feet above flood stage. In
Lynchburg the watermarks were 7 feet higher than the previous high water marks. In Buena Vista, the Maury
crested at 26.3 feet, 9.3 feet above the flood stage. Flooding in Glasgow, although causing significant
damage, was probably reduced by the removal of the Balcony Falls dam.
The citizens of Glasgow have endured a lot during each flood, but each time the residents come back stronger
than ever, and striving to improve. It was pressure from the Town that led to the removal of the Balcony Falls
dam in 1973. The Town has sustained more than $30 million in flood, damage since 1969, with more than $20
million in the 1995 alone. In the 1995 flood event, Lee’s Carpets sustained more than $10 million in damage
and was closed for several days. Repetitive flooding has caused a great burden for many residents in Town
as they rebuild their homes and their lives.
After the June 1995 floods, Glasgow embarked on an ambitious project to address the problem of
properties that are damaged repeatedly by flooding and yet repaired or rebuilt in the same unsafe locations.
The problem has cost the Town and residents hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years and has had
tragic consequences for individual families and businesses caught in the cycle of flood-repair-flood. Fifty-six
(56) houses were identified as receiving substantial and recurrent flood damage and were slated for
elevation, relocation, or acquisition (and demolition). Funding for this $2.5 million project was provided
through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community
Development, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Rockbridge County and the Town of
Glasgow. As a result of this project, which was completed in 2003, more than 100 persons will be protected
from future damaging floods. This project, administered in Town by Mayor Sam Blackburn, was the result of
many hours of hard work from members of Town Council, county officials, town officials, citizens, and made
possible by assistance from the staff of the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission. Planners
Rebecca Joyce and Bonnie Riedesel worked tirelessly to see the project through to completion. Engineering
Concepts, Inc. of Fincastle, Virginia provided Professional engineering services.
