Our partners at the Transylvania County Library have contributed a trove of company newspapers that we are excited to make available on DigitalNC. The Ecusta Paper Mill operated in Brevard, North Carolina from 1939 to 2002, specializing in cigarette paper and cellophane. The paper mill was a major economic force in the region, employing thousands of Transylvania County residents. From 1949 to 1987, the plant was owned and operated by Olin Industries. During this period, the plant published a newspaper covering events, programs, and people at the Ecusta Paper Mill. We have digitized exactly 99 issues of the newspaper, known as both The Olin News and The Olin Profile, dating from 1967 to 1985. The Olin News covers 1967-1979, while The Olin Profile covers 1980-1985. Visitors to the site will find this newspaper to be a rich resource for researching the history of the Ecusta Paper Mill and the people who worked there.

The 2002 closure of the mill sent shockwaves through the community, where it had become an institution over the course of six decades. Brevard has since rebounded by leaning into tourism centered on its natural resources and beautiful mountain landscapes. Today the former site of the Ecusta Paper Mill is home to Ecusta Brewing Company and an in-progress 19-mile greenway that will eventually connect Brevard, Penrose, Etowah, Horse Shoe, the Town of Laurel Park, and the City of Hendersonville. It is also a Superfund redevelopment site, with work focusing on depolluting the Davidson River and reclaiming the area for recreational use.

The Transylvania County Library has contributed over one thousand yearbooks, city directories, photographs, and more, as well as seven newspaper titles. View all of their digitized materials on DigitalNC at their contributor page here, and visit their website here to learn more.