#2 Eclectic Lowe Mill

Today I spent a fun afternoon in an artsy – and historic – part of Huntsville that many people are beginning to discover – The Lowe Mill Arts & Entertainment building. The large structure is home to local artists and performing arts who share their original creatures, teach classes and perform various entertainment venues in the Flying Monkey Arts theatre.

The mill originally opened its doors in 1901 as a textile mill, producing weaving yarns, ginghams and shirts. Struggling through the depression and several hands of ownership the mill had a dramatic turn in 1945 when Nashville-based Genesco turned the mill into a shoe factory providing Huntsvillians with 800 jobs. In 1978 ownership changed again and the mill was now a warehouse for commercial and residential heating systems.

In 2001, Jim Hudson, founder of Research Genetics bought the building and has since been restoring and revitalizing the facitility. Mr. Hudson’s genetic research company, Operon, is also located in one of the buildings of Lowe Mill.

Over the years, Huntsville’s historic Lowe Mill has been through many changes – but today it seems alive and well with so many residents of the community enjoying the facitility and arts. When we arrived the parking lot was packed! If you have not already seen this interesting place, take an excursion on a Saturday afternoon and go stroll through Lowe Mill and see the beautiful works of art, original paintings and unique gifts to buy. You will smile to see that something old and abandoned can once again come alive and become even better than when it began:)

Category: Featured, Huntsville's Best Kept Secrets, Recreation