COOLEEMEE — Day of Reunion and Remembrance will begin with the sound of a mill whistle on the Zachary House grounds this Saturday, Sept. 26, at 11 a.m.

Visitors returning to their hometown will join family and friends for fellowship and reminiscing. Cooleemee’s two heritage museums will be open free to the general public that day for tours.

Hot Diggity Dogs will be selling their mouth-watering delights. Dozens of homemade cakes and other baked goods will be for sale to support the historical association’s museums and its pioneering “Discovering Our Heritage” kids program.

At 12:30 p.m., church bus transportation will shuttle all who wish to participate down to Main Street for a group photograph in front of the remains of the old cotton mill. It is currently being demolished. There are some alive who worked there and many more whose parents, grandparents and ancestors worked in the mill who wish to pay their last respects to this important local landmark. Bagpipes, played by one such mill descendant, will end the ceremony.

Shuttles will carry participants back to the Zachary House. If you wish to take your own vehicle and participate, you may park in an orderly fashion at the Cooleemee United Methodist parking lot above the mill on Main Street.

Textile Heritage Day is sponsored by the Cooleemee Historical Association, which was founded in 1989 to preserve the history and heritage of this former mill town and its people.