About 1pm today we became aware of a fire at the old Avondale Mills building. Its been deserted for some time. Salvage crews have been working to extract some value from the heart pine construction and old machinery. Apparently lightning struck it setting off a blaze that couldn't be contained. All that old dry wood, cotton lint, and grease made for a combustible mix. But it is sad to see it lost. My Dad started there in 1955 as a floor sweeper. He worked with Avondale till his death in 1984. So many people in this community drew their livelihood from that company. Sad.
Effigies are used in grieving by providing a tangible representation of what has been lost, allowing a mourner to connect with who or what they've lost , which can help with the process of acceptance and emotional expression, particularly when the loss is sudden or traumatic; they can be used to focus grief and memories around a physical likeness, offering a sense of continued presence even in their absence