Bibb Manufacturing Company
| Company type | Private (after 1985) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Textile manufacturing |
| Founded | February 25, 1876 in Macon, Georgia, United States |
| Founder | Major John F. Hanson, Isaac N. Hanson, Hugh M. Comer |
| Defunct | 1998 |
| Fate | Acquired by Dan River, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Macon , United States |
Area served | United States |
Key people | Hugh M. Comer (President 1876–1900), John Hanson (President 1900–1908), Thomas Foley (President 1995–1998) |
| Products | Cotton goods including sheets, comforters, towels, curtains, bedspreads, carpet yarns, industrial textiles |
Number of employees | Approximately 15,000 (1950) |
| Parent | NTC Group (1985–1998) |
Bibb Manufacturing Company was a textile enterprise established in Macon, Georgia in 1876 and later acquired by Dan River in 1998. Commonly referred to as "The Bibb Company," it specialized in producing cotton goods such as sheets, comforters, towels, curtains, and bedspreads. Beyond its manufacturing operations, Bibb extended various benefits to its workforce, including healthcare services, educational institutions, housing provisions, and community programs.
Background
On February 25, 1876, the incorporation of Bibb Manufacturing Company received approval from Georgia Governor James Smith. The company was founded by Major John F. Hanson, Isaac N. Hanson, and Hugh M. Comer, who also assumed leadership roles: Comer as president, J. Hanson as secretary treasurer, and I. Hanson overseeing business management. Shortly after its formation, J. Hanson negotiated a 99-year tax exemption with Macon’s city council to encourage the company's establishment within the city.
Early years
The company initially acquired an old freight depot along with 101.59 acres located in east Macon. In 1878, Bibb purchased a mill from Macon Manufacturing, which became known as Bibb Mill Number One and Number Two. By 1881, capital was increased to $150,000 through stock sales to investors Muir and Duckworth. By 1878, operations included 16,500 spindles and 140 looms, with products distributed through James Reynolds and Company based in New York.
Expansion continued in 1898 when Bibb merged with several companies: Macon Knitting Company, Taylor Manufacturing near Reynolds, Cordele Manufacturing Company, and Porterdale Mills. This consolidation elevated the stock value to $1.4 million.
In 1900, Bibb acquired Columbus Power Company—which included a spindle mill and dam—but divested the power assets in 1906 while retaining the mill and adjacent land that later became part of Bibb City. That same year saw the sale of Cordele Manufacturing Company.
Following a prolonged process beginning in 1904 due to financial difficulties at Payne Cotton Mills, Bibb completed its acquisition of this facility in 1927. In 1919, workers petitioned for the incorporation of the mill’s surrounding area—including housing and community amenities—as Payne City within Macon.
Mill life
Beyond employment opportunities, Bibb Manufacturing developed mill villages featuring employee housing and company-operated stores. By 1950, the company managed five schools near Macon and operated nineteen vocational training centers focused on machinery operation skills. Religious life was supported by providing free land for church construction and covering one-third of building costs; six churches served approximately 2,400 congregants within these mill communities.
Employee healthcare was emphasized through six no-cost clinics staffed by nine physicians and eight nurses serving some 15,000 workers in 1950. The Porterdale facility maintained a hospital with twenty beds. Social activities were coordinated by six social workers who organized clubs, camps, excursions, and athletic teams including baseball and football leagues. Sporting events attracted over 100,000 spectators in 1949 alone. Recreational infrastructure included two gymnasiums and four auditoriums across various locations to host social gatherings and entertainment.
Products
The product range of Bibb Manufacturing encompassed sheets, comforters, bedspreads, towels, curtains for both consumer use and hotels, carpet yarns, as well as industrial textiles applied in automotive hoses and conveyor belts.
In response to wartime resource shortages in 1942, the company developed a heat-resistant cotton tire cord designed to replace rayon in tires and conserve limited rubber supplies.
Subsequent growth efforts involved licensing children’s merchandise featuring prominent franchises such as Star Wars, Barney the Dinosaur, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and The Lion King. Additional licensed properties included 101 Dalmatians, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Sailor Moon, and Batman. Nonetheless, difficulties managing the unpredictable nature of licensed products contributed to the eventual decline of Bibb Manufacturing.
Closure
In 1985, Thomas Foley established the NTC Group, which took control of Bibb Manufacturing through a leveraged buyout financed by junk bonds, shifting the firm from public to private status. Between 1992 and 1995, NTC collected annual management fees ranging from $3 million to $4 million.
By 1995, Bibb's $160 million in junk bonds had been downgraded to the lowest credit rating. Although the company anticipated earnings of $15 million that year, it was burdened with $26 million in interest obligations.
In 1997, Bibb divested its terry division, including the Rosemary facility purchased in 1988 from J.P. Stevens, selling it to West Point Stevens. The subsequent year, Dan River, Inc acquired Bibb Manufacturing for an estimated $250 million. By 1999, Bibb’s Macon office was shuttered, and its former headquarters building was sold to the city of Macon, which later leased it for governmental purposes.
Plants and locations
| Plant | Location | Year Opened or Acquired | Year Closed or Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abbeville/Calhoun Falls | Abbeville County, SC | 1995 | |
| Anderson | Columbus, GA | 1937 | |
| Arnall | Sargent, GA | 1964 | 1986 |
| Arnco | Newnan, GA | 1964 | 1998 |
| Bellevue | Macon, GA | 1960 | 1986 |
| Bibb Mill One | Macon, GA | 1985 | |
| Bibb Mill Two | Macon, GA | ||
| Brookneal | Brookneal, VA | ||
| Camellia | Juliette, GA | 1998 | |
| Cherokee | Forsyth, GA | 1985 | |
| Columbus | Columbus, GA | 1900 | 1998 |
| Cordele | Cordele, GA | 1898 | 1900 |
| Forsyth | Forsyth, GA | 1985 | |
| Fort Valley | Fort Valley, GA | ||
| Goldsboro | Goldsboro, NC | ||
| Greensboro | Greensboro, NC | ||
| LaGrange | LaGrange, GA | ||
| Laurel | Pottersville, GA | ||
| Macon Knitting Mill | Macon, GA | 1898 | |
| Newnan | Newnan, GA | 1970 | |
| Osprey | Porterdale, GA | 1898 | |
| Payne | Payne City, GA | (legally 1927) | |
| Reynolds | Reynolds, GA | 1898 | |
| Roanoke II | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1997 | |
| Rosemary | Roanoke Rapids, NC | 1997 | |
| Whitehorse | Greenville, SC |
Leadership
Presidents:
- Hugh Moss Comer 1876–1900
- John Hanson 1900–1908
- W.T. Hanson 1908–1909
- G. Gunby Jordan 1909–1913
- E. T. Comer 1913–1919
- William D. Anderson 1919–1936
- William D. Anderson Jr. 1936–1937
- William D. Anderson 1937–1941
- Scott Russell 1941–1943
- William D. Anderson 1943–1947
- Charles Hertwig 1947–1956
- Robert Train 1956–1970
- William S. Manning 1970–1986
- Roland Knight 1986–1987
- Alan Davis 1987–1992
- Edgar Davis 1992–1994
- Thomas Foley 1995–1998