The Touch, The Feel of Cotton

I grew up in a small railroad town.  

At the turn of the century, 

it was buzzing with activity.

Not only was it a railroad town,

it was also a cotton mill town.

There's nothing like 

the touch, the feel of cotton, 

don't you agree?

The cotton mill in my home town

was called 

Washington Manufacturing Company.

Yesterday while I was browsing Hidden Treasures, 

a new vendor brought in a bag of 

Washington County cotton. 

It was in the original package, 

signed and dated.

A cotton mill is a factory housing powered spinning

or weaving machinery for the production

of yarn or cloth from cotton.

From 1900 to mid-century, cotton was picked by hand.

In the 1950's, our church purchased the lot joining 

the property and planted a cotton field. 

The members picked cotton to pay the expenses

of the home-mission church.

Cotton baskets today are expensive. 

The flea market price for the large basket is $120,

the middle basket is $85

and the smallest basket is $35.

I'm thinking of a song that Mama used to sing to us:

When I was a little, bitty baby

My mama would rock me in my cradle

In them old, cotton fields back home. 

(refrain)

Oh, when those cotton ball got rotten, 

You could pick very much cotton, 

In them old, cotton fields back home. 

It was back in Lousiana

Just about a mile from Texarkana 

In them old cotton fields back home. 

We grew up with a cotton field behind our house. 

We flew our kites in the cotton field 

and played up and down the rows, 

but no, thank God, we never had to pick cotton. 

I love how we use cotton today

in weddings and special events. 

These photos was taken at a wedding

that I blogged about last year.

The wedding designer is incredible.

There's really nothing like 

the touch, the feel of cotton.

Bonnie:)

Did any of you ever pick cotton?