Sale of BF Goodrich Manufacturing Plant in Thomaston, Georgia

PR Log (Press Release) – May 26, 2009 – Thomaston, Georgia – On June 20, 2008, Art Barry III, SIOR, Partner and Associate Broker of Coldwell Banker Commercial Eberhardt & Barry brokered the sale of the former B. F. Goodrich Manufacturing facility at 325 Goodrich Avenue, Thomaston, Georgia from WesTek Georgia LLC to a Virginia based investment group.

The B. F. Goodrich facility consists of nine buildings totalling 1,148,800 square feet on a 36.5 acre campus.  B. F. Goodrich purchased the non-apparel textile manufacturing plant from Martha Mills in 1929.  Today, after several mergers and name changes, the community still refers to the facility as Martha Mills.  A charter was granted on October 2, 1926 and the mill began its 80-year operation on January 1, 1927 helping to stabilize the economy of Upson County.  The textile operations ceased in 2007.  At its peak of production, this facility employed 1400 in 3 shifts.

In the summer of 1925, a group of B.F. Goodrich officials chartered a Pullman car from Akron, Ohio and toured the hot, humid, south looking for a place to locate a tire cord mill.  The place they chose was Thomaston, Georgia.  The art deco Martha Mills’ edifice built in 1926 of red brick and white limestone built by the established firm of Robert and Company of Atlanta.  

Martha Mills expanded several times and so did its production.  Market yarns were produced and sold to the knitting and finishing mills throughout the south and east as well as diversifying into industrial belts and fire hose.

The new investor/owners may demolish the multi-story buildings and make available for lease the larger one-story, 150,000 square feet, warehouse.  The freestanding, 20,000 square feet, modern office building may be placed on the market for sale.  Questions may be directed to the agent below.