Blue Bell’s History.

Built-in 1901, expanded in 1948, and reconstructed according to National Park Service Historic Standards in 2021.

Two young girls working on sewing machines inside a fabric or craft workshop with shelves of materials and clothing items around.

Black and white photograph of a cityscape with industrial buildings and a smokestack, skyline partly obscured by trees in the foreground.

Vintage black and white photograph of a float in a parade with two women, one sitting on the float and one standing, both smiling. The float has signs and supplies, and a large sign with handwritten text about safety and rescue is visible. Cars are parked along the street in the background.

Our History

Blue Bell was known for making men’s and boys’ overalls and dungarees, as most US companies did during World War II, they supported the war effort by sewing shirts for the US Army.

Blue Bell was the only company that manufactured wearing apparel, and the only company where the majority of the several hundred employees were female. Ninety-five percent of the employees, including some of the upper management positions, were female.

FEMALE WORKFORCE

Even though women had gone into the work force during World War II, for many it was temporary while the men were at war. Blue Bell offered a good environment for women who needed to continue working.

Later the company added Wrangler, Rustler, and Maverick Jeans to their line along with Jantzen swimwear and sports-wear to their line. Locally, the business was known informally as “the overall plant” or “the place that makes dungarees”

A woman with glasses and wavy hair holding a pair of denim jeans. The photo appears to be vintage or from the past, in black and white.

Denim Dreams:

Live a Rich History in Mill-Style Comfort

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