To the Mill and Back
About
“To the Mill and Back” weaves an immersive narrative set in the declining textile industry of northeastern United States during the latter half of the 20th century. In 1971, two young men working in a textile mill cross paths. Their ensuing mentor/student relationship offers an insightful glimpse into the transformation of American society during this period and forecasts the imminent demise of an industry that once sustained generations.
The two protagonists are emblematic of their respective times—one a product of the early 1950s and the other of the 1971 era. Both foresee the impending changes that elude many of their contemporaries. Their shared experiences allow readers to explore the social, economic, and personal impacts of this industrial shift on those who would be directly affected.
The book paints vivid portraits of a host of characters embodying the diverse individuals one might encounter in a post-World War II industrial environment. The impending doom of the industry, symbolized by the closure of massive factories and mills, casts a shadow over their interactions. This is an elegy to towns and industries that once thrived—now left to decay or vanish—such as the Capitol Records facility in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and the textile mill across the street.
“To the Mill and Back” is a heartfelt exploration of the human cost of industrial decline. It presents a tapestry of characters and experiences, each a mirror to the diverse faces that constituted American society during this transformative period.
Praise for this book
I had no idea what to expect when I opened this book. I was prepared to not get past the first chapter. Instead, I didn't put it down until the final word. What I found was an entirely relatable book that was part coming of age, part exposé on a transitional segment of Americana. A segment that I grew up in and helped shape the man I am today. I don't mean to make this about me, but there I was in every chapter, and there were so many of my friends and acquaintances. Maybe not by the same names, but I knew many of the characters. Their dress, their demeanor, and their eventual destination. And like Chris, I too took that road down memory lane decades later, and like those touching words of Robert Frost: that has made all the difference.
To the Mill and Back is a slice-of-life, coming-of-age story set in a northeastern textile mill from the 1950s through 1970s, a time when the industry was in steep decline. Through the lives of Floyd the Bobbin Boy turned Tester, and then years later, Chris the Bobbin Boy, the book captures the camaraderie, humor, and challenges of mill life (from Blake Silk Mill to Blake Textile Mill…and be sure to make that distinction!), while exploring the generational contrasts between two young men shaped by time and experience. The richly drawn plethora of characters working in the factory represent a diverse cross-section of social, ethnic, and educational backgrounds, bringing the mill’s heyday to life with vivid imagery, some crass humor, but honest humanity. This book is a tribute to the people and communities shaped by an era now past, offering both nostalgia and a reminder of the industrial change that has led to the world we live in today.