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Troutman’s Sparta employees at Christmas, 1950.
Photo from Leonis Joines.

Just by chance, H.J. Brown of Troutman Shirt Company, was passing through Sparta and stopped to buy gas. A service station attendant saw his company credit card and asked Mr. Brown why he didn’t open a plant in Sparta. Mr. Brown replied, that if someone would send him some information on the town he just might do so. Mr. Brown soon got his information in the mail and a local committee was set up to negotiate a new branch in Sparta.

Troutman Shirt Company, owned by brothers L. A. Brown and H. J. Brown, came to Sparta in 1949. Sparta was their first branch plant and there, they began to manufacture blue chambray work shirts. As part of the plan Mr. Dorace Bare and his brother Hiram Bare of Laurel Springs built the plant adjacent to a building they owned on the corner of Grayson Street and Highway 18. (Where the Crouse Park stage now stands) With their own saw mill they sawed the lumber for the plant. Troutman Shirt leased the buildings and later purchased them.

By the end of 1957, plans were being made to manufacture men’s and boy’s casual slacks and walking shorts. Mr. Pat Brown came to Sparta one day and asked me to go with a drive with him. I had no idea where or why. He drove to the location of the Sparta Lions Club softball park. He said he needed to build another plant to manufacture casual wear and would like to do so in Sparta, because of the outstanding record the Sparta division had.

He could purchase the Lions Club property and build there- but only if I would manage it for him. He also told me I would have 100% say as to how many people I needed to staff for supervisors and other key positions. The final decisions for Sparta to have another plant rested on my shoulders and it would be a huge step. I accepted the job. We then drove to Northwestern Bank and Mr. Brown signed a note for funds to purchase property and build the plant.

In December of 1957, construction of the new plant had been completed and we started to move in. From that time, the new building would be called Plant #1 and operate in the name of Atwood Inc. (Atwood was the middle name of Mr. L. A. Brown) and the old plant was used for a warehouse.

By 1958, employment in Sparta had exceeded 350 employees. Then in March of 1959, plans were made to reopen the old plant as plant #2. It received a new paint job inside and out, with new brick masonry at the front, facing Highway 18. All of the wiring and plumbing had been left intact, so the transition moved very quickly. The employees were happy to be back on their old home court and making work pants.

This move provided more room at plant #1 for more needed casual wear production. By the end of 1960, employment at both plants was approximately 475. Call this bragging or whatever but the success was really due to decisions of the company and the dedication of a wonderful group of loyal employees. —J.M. Sturgill

The plant operated until 1984 at which time it sold its operation to Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair ran it until 1987, and after that, Modern Globe of North Wilkesboro. Modern Globe closed its operation in April of 2000, and December 19, 2001, the plant #1 property was sold to Alleghany County.

Today, Troutman’s plant #1 building has been completely refurbished and repurposed. It is the home of Wilkes Community College, Sparta Campus; the Blue Ridge Business Development Center and the Alleghany County Public Library. This photo was made in 2015.