• 300 S. Firestone Street, Suite 200-C Gastonia, NC 28052
  • 400 E. King Street, Kings Mountain, NC 28086

Category Archives: History

Past to Present: Building Legacy at the Heart of Gaston County

The Thrasher Group North Carolina’s Gastonia office is located in what historically was known as the Loray Mill, and later Firestone Cotton Mill. Loray Mill — also nicknamed “Million Dollar Mill” — was one of the largest textile facilities in the South. The building continues it’s legacy of making Gaston County an economic hub still to this day.

At its peak in the early 1900s, Loray Mill employed over 750 workers and was a technological and structural powerhouse. Tying in architectural and structural engineering from New England, Loray Mill’s facilities were equipped with firewall partitions and fire doors to the interior to limit the spread of fire, all while maintaining aesthetic Italianate details with arched windows and a pyramidal roof on the exterior of the building. Further, the mill stood apart in the South because of its experimental steam power source and air conditioning systems.

The mill closed its doors in 1993, and while it no longer produces textiles, the mill still presents itself as an impressionable space for the community. With modernized housing and office spaces, including Thrasher NC, the mill provides the Gaston community with a collaborative space for economic advancement while preserving the rich local history.

The Thrasher Group North Carolina strives to continue Loray Mill’s legacy of being at the heart of the community by passionately supporting our municipalities and neighborhoods, providing local jobs, and serving the area’s infrastructure needs. 

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A History of Successful Projects and Repeat Clientele

Our company history goes back to 1983, when H. Wood “Woody” Thrasher, PE, a young engineer with an entrepreneurial spirit, started a civil engineering firm with his father, a seasoned engineer himself. Their philosophy was centered around the commitment to building business through successful projects and the idea that strong relationships lead to repeat clientele.

Since that time, The Thrasher Group – a multi-disciplinary firm composed of professionals in civil engineering, architecture, landscape architecture, environmental, and field services – has been growing throughout Appalachia and the Mid-Atlantic region.

Woody operates The Thrasher Group North Carolina – a separate company with roots that go back to 1964 as Robinson & Sawyer – under the same principles. Our team is dedicated to improving communities where we live and work right here in the western Piedmont region and across the border in upstate South Carolina. We bring talented, home-grown professionals together in a collaborative environment and give them opportunities to do meaningful work on projects that matter to local residents.

By listening to our clients and prioritizing their needs, we are able to find strategies and solutions that continue to produce successful projects and strong relationships.


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