Sadly, Avalon is a North Carolina city that vanished overnight. Home to more than 450 people at the turn of the 20th century, more than half worked at the Avalon Mill in Rockingham County. In June of 1911, a tragedy struck and a massive blaze swept through the mill, burning it to the ground and devasting the small town. A dream the mill might be reconstructed was unrealized and the village was eventually abandoned. The nearby mill town of Mayodan became the new home for many, including their houses.

It seems the demand for yarn was so high that the Mayo Mill, two miles away, could not keep up, and from 1899 to 1900 a new mill was built in Avalon.

Here is the beautiful, rushing dam for the Avalon Mill.

This view of Avalon is from the window of Avalon Mill: The Moravian Church is on the left and the brick company store sits to the right.

The Smith house is in the front and part of the J. S. Suttenfield house is in the right foreground.

One of these people in the workforce of Avalon Mill could have snapped the shot - just look at the tired faces, and some of them are little children.

Overseer C. B. Daniels

is the photographer in the front pulling the camera string. Overseer Emmett R. Suttenfield is also in front with a rolled paper in his hand. In the second row wearing a coat and tie is Edgar L. Hege, the superintendent of the mill.

But it wasn't all about work as they had time for picnics, and this picture is of the first one held at the Avalon Mill picnic ground, with the Mayo River in the background.

Pictured from left: Jessie Vaden, Mrs. Oakley, Mrs. Benton, Mrs. J. S. Suttenfield, Mrs. Hege, and Nora Smith. Ola Mai Suttenfield Foushee is wearing a white dress with her hand on the rope.

And more fun was had one day by some members of the Avalon baseball team standing outside the barber shop and ice cream parlor with a group of people.

Wearing the handsome straw hat is Walter Bailey. Some others include Ball Travis, John Willie Richardson, Troy Shrupshire, Henry Woos, Will Vernon, Jae Joyce, H. Reynaldo, H. Smith, and M. Suttenfield.

Charlie Smith and Claude Bailey stand on Main Street.

Worship was another priority at the only church in the village - the Avalon Moravian Church - which was also used by other denominations.

They wore their best dresses, suits, and hats to gather at the church for Sunday school around 1908.

Pictured are mill workers watching the Avalon Mill fire of June 15, 1911, after which the town of Avalon ceased to exist, and many homes and buildings were moved to nearby Mayodan.

The white building in front is the mill office.

This postcard shows Bill Lewis and his team moving a house from Avalon to Mayodan after the fire.

To learn more about this North Carolina city that vanished overnight, visit the Museum and Archives of Rockingham County website. And another great digital resource, from which permission to use the photos was granted, is the website of DigitalNC.

The lovely Mayo River State Park in Mayodan may give some hints of the vanished town of Avalon. If you go, consider staying in a cozy Vrbo.