The two felt it was not a great homecoming to find the town had nothing to offer. They began a search to find something better for the town. They talked to Senator Claude Moore and began to put their plan into action. They decided to build a factory. What kind of factory? Who would operate it? There were two grocery stores, a bank and two dry goods stores on the square, and a hardware store in town. What they lacked in finesse, they made up for in enthusiasm. Ordinary citizens found themselves chipping in what money they could afford. After a few weeks, they had $35,000 which was enough money to begin building the factory. Many folks told them they weren't interested in Buchanan. But, the two continued on their search and were finally successful in getting Henry Bell, of Arrow Shirts in Bremen, interested. He told the two he would need 200 workers, which they immediately promised. Thus, Buchanan got a shirt factory. Many citizens of Buchanan and Haralson County worked there until it closed in the early 1990s.
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