Dan River Inc.’s iconic letters to see new life
November 2, 2015
Many Danvillians mourned when the iconic “Home of Dan River Fabrics” sign came down off the top of the White Mill in 2007 — a sign that, since 1948, had been visible to airplane passengers landing at Danville Regional Airport or to people returning to Danville on South Boston Road.
Spotting the sign meant they were home.
Dan River Inc.’s White Mill closed in 1997 and in 2004 a tornado twirled the “D” in “Dan” on the sign into a twisted mess, but people still missed the bright glow of the neon sign and were stunned when, without announcement, in 2007 the letters started disappearing one by one.
City leaders said there was nothing they could do — the building and sign were privately owned and could be sold by the owner. The Danville Historical Society had wanted to buy the sign, but negotiations with Dan River Inc. had stalled.
