ROCKINGHAM COUNTY, N.C. — The former Spray Cotton Mills in Eden is still smoking Thursday after it went up in flames.
The massive fire started late Wednesday night and has burned for hours.
Smoke was still billowing from the shell that remains of the former mill. Darkness painted a different picture of red hot flames the previous night.
Firefighters from across the county and even southern Virginia helped the Eden Fire Department battle the fire. Firefighters were still on the scene Thursday evening working to control hot spots.
We spoke to the Eden mayor who called this a once-in-a-lifetime event. He said crews were just working on the roof this week as a developer worked to transform the mill into new housing.
"They had the framing up for the rooms, inside, and I mean, he had really moved along and the thing is, he's worked with the state and the county and city for years to get this far, and then this happened. It's devastating for us and the people who have partnered to try and make it happen," Mayor Nevill Hall said.
Throughout the day, we saw countless people stopping to take pictures of the smoldering mill - many who have worked in the old mill or knew others who did.
There's no word on what may have started the fire.
Spray Cotton Mills has been a historical staple in the Eden community for more than 100 years.
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