This wonderful old building was built in 1946 with
double thick walls in case it was needed as a munitions
storage area. That never was necessary but the Bentley
family housed their textile company in the building.
The factory has long been relocated, although the
company offices are still on the upper floor. When
the store is quiet, I can hear my friends walking
around on the original creaky floor boards. A sound
I find very comforting. In turn, the Bentleys and
the other employees of Marietta Drapery can't resist
visiting occasionally to see what is new and to rejoice
in the old lady's new look.
Many gallons of paint later, our grand old lady is
polished up and again receiving visitors. Be sure
to notice the brick ceiling; constructed with the
same technology as the London underground. The occasional
ghost drifts by, interested in all the changes, I
suppose, or wondering at our state-of-the-art long
arm quilting machines, so different from the primitive
mill machines of the past.
