The LovKnit Manufacturing Company was located on the site of the old Wesley College campus on south Sayle Street.
Ask almost anyone about the 1930s and the reply will probably be about the woes of the Great Depression. True, times were incredibly difficult financially for everyone. But here in Greenville at least two new manufacturing concerns opened for business and managed to continue for quite a few years.
In the spring of 1930 T. C. Glassman started the Glassman Manufacturing Company to make a high-grade line of rayon underwear for women. By April Glassman had announced that the plant was in full operation in the A. B. Jones Building at the northeast corner of Lee and St. John Streets above Fashion Shoe Store. The facility produced only one line of apparel that enabled them to turn out a uniform garment at a most satisfactory price, reported the owner. The type of garment was not mentioned in the article as those words were not printed in the press.
Glassman installed special electrical machinery for production. Merchandise sold to the public under the trade name “Madelyn”. Special representatives worked the field taking orders daily. By 1941, Glassman Manufacturing Company moved to 2716 Travis Street.
Eight years later the Greenville Evening Banner again reported on another new industry in town. This time C. A. Iliff, owner of Greenville Shoe and Leather Company, announced the hiring of Art Fresh, master of shoe cutting and fitting. When Fresh came to Greenville directly from International Shoe Company he had seven years experience making baby shoes. Now Mr. Fresh would devote his expertise to making Baby Texan shoes as the assistant to manager W. R. Smallworth in the cutting and fitting room. Officials stated they felt extremely fortunate in securing the service of Fresh.
The Greenville Shoe and Leather Company was Greenville’s newest industry, and since it was founded a short time previously, it increased the Greenville payroll in growing proportions. Lauded by civic organizations Greenville stores responded with enthusiasm by purchasing Baby Texan shoes for children.
However within two years, Mr. Iliff was dead and both Mr. Smallworth and Mr. Fresh had moved on the bigger and better shoe making. Yet, the manufacturing plant, now using the name Greenville Baby Shoe Manufacturing Company, was located in LovKnit Park with R. B. Love president and F. E. Shirey, vice-president. Must have been one of the earliest start-up industries we hear so much about today.
Lov-Knit Park also has an interesting past. It was built on the site of the old Wesley College that moved here in 1911 from Terrell. Even before that the area was known as Mineral Heights, a real estate development that never really took off. When Wesley College closed in 1938 Greenville Shoe and Leather Company started up. The area was home to LovKnit Manufacturing Company, Greenville Baby Shoes Company, Inc., and LovMe Manufacturing Company as well as the Lov-Knit Hotel. Needless to say, the local Love family owned the enterprises.
The entire area of south Greenville on both sides of Poplar Street and west of Wesley Street was part of the old Wesley College campus before becoming part of Lov-Knit Park. Businesses and homes were built after the park was laid out. However, none of the streets had names and no buildings were numbered until after World War II. Owners were listed alphabetically at first. Later, names were listed in the City Directory with either ss or ns attached. SS, of course was south side of street, and NS was the north side.
Found a bunch of photos today of grandmother who worked and lived at LovKnit. Is there a way to try and find relatives of other people that worked there in order to try and identify some other people in the pictures?
My mother went to work and lived at Lov-Knit when she was 16 years old. She made life-long friends there. When my parents married in 1947 and lived ther for almost 2 years. They both had very fond memories of life and work at Lov-Knit and Mr. Love.
My mother also worked and lived at LovKnit around 1947-1948. I have an 8×10 photo of 11 of the girls in their long dresses made around the Christmas tree. I’m sure it was their Christmas party. I only know a little bit about one of the girls in the photo other than my Mom but she had many stories about the workers who lived upstairs and the pranks they would play on each other for fun. They would eat their meals there on a regular schedule. Mom said that was the healthiest she had ever been and enjoyed living and working at the sewing factory there.
Hi my mom worked at LovKnit in the late 40s. Would you be able to post the picture of the girls around the Christmas tree? If not could you take a picture of it and email to me please. I would appreciate that very much.
Thank you,
Terri Dirik
I’m interested in any information you can give me on LovKnit, Lov-Knit.
I would like to know exactly the correct spelling of the name and also the date it was started. Also the date they moved to Wesley College. My husband’s father was one of the brothers who started the company. He is deceased and my children are interested in the history. Any info you could send me would be appreciated.
My mother worked and lived there with her parents and siblings. Her parent’s were Herbert & Ethel Ensley. Mom worked there when she was 16 years old. Her father cut baby shoes and her mother sewed. Mom’s aunt Ora Ensley worked there the longest of all of them.
They made some clothing for the military.
These are a few recollections.
Mom lived there 1947-1949