Champion Mill
Born in 1851, Peter G. Thompson was responsible for the construction of the Champion Paper and Pulp Mill in a swampy cornfield along the Pigeon River in Canton. Construction began in 1906 and the mill opened in 1908. Champion helped to bring industrialization to western North Carolina and was an industry that relied on the regions timber resources. The creation of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park forced Champion to sell 90,000 acres of spruce, which the company had sought to rely on for years to come. However, Champion survived and even prospered during the Great Depression, boosting high employment and good wages. Champion’s social programs and economic support helped to make Canton and Haywood County a viable option for families to live in. The paper mill has remained a central part of the community, employing many of Canton's residents.