In 1898 Tom Lloyd built Alberta, the cotton mill that was his pride and joy, in a small town originally known as West End, as in west end of Chapel Hill. Alberta nudged forward a period of growth for Venable, the community’s second name, in honor of the UNC President, turning it into a real town.

The town’s name was changed to Carrboro in 1914, after the Julian Carr family bought the cotton mill from Lloyd in 1909 and donated electricity and streets to the community. The mill became part of the Blanche Hosiery Corporation, and then the Durham Hosiery Mills. It became known as #4, and closed in 1930.

The Carrboro Woolen Mills began operation in a modernized #4 in 1945. This company was the main employer in Carrboro during those years. The mill remained operational until the early 1960’s.