Dublin Core
Title
A Sketch of the Mills of the American Woolen Company - 1901
Description
A book that describes the inception and history of the American Woolen Company, including pictures/sketches of the American Woolen Company's 19 mills.
We have included the text of pages 49-51, related to the Assabet Mills of Maynard.
We have included the text of pages 49-51, related to the Assabet Mills of Maynard.
Date
1901.
Contributor
Daniel C. O'Connor.
Identifier
1999.2147
Format
9 x 7 in., 144 pages, paper.
Document Item Type Metadata
Text
AMERICAN WOOLEN COMPANY
ASSABET MILLS
MAYNARD, MASS.
The Assabet Mills were founded by Mr. Amory Maynard, a native of Marlboro, Mass., who in 1845 purchased the water-power at the site of the present plant. In partnership with William H. Knight of Saxonville, a mill was erected and designed for the manufacture of carpets and carpet yarn. On this production the plant began active operation in 1847.
This mill, the nucleus of the present plant, was a wooden structure 100 by 50 feet, and in its first year of operation it produced carpets and yarn to the value of $110,000. The plant was increased quite rapidly, new buildings of brick being added from time to time as business warranted.
On September 10, 1862, the Assabet Manufacturing Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Massachusetts, with T. A. Goddard as president, T. Quincy Browne, treasurer, and Amory Maynard as agent. Messis. Augustus and Charles P. Hemmenway were largely interested in the stock of the company, the latter succeeding t o the presidency upon the death of Mr. Goddard. Mr. Hemmenway was followed in turn by Mr. W . H . Hill of Boston.
During Mr. Maynard's agency the raw material was bought and the finished product was sold direct. This policy was also pursued after Mr. Maynard had retired and up until 1898, when the goods were sold through Messrs. Oelbermann, Dommerich & Co., of New York City.
Mr. Amory Maynard retired from the active management of the company in 1885 on account of ill health. He was succeeded by his nephew, Mr. Lorenzo Maynard.
The entire construction of the plant, with the exception of the erection of one mill, 180 by 6o feet, was practically consummated during the agency of Mr. Maynard.
In 1898, Mr. Amory Maynard, a grandson of the founder of the plant, was placed in charge of the mills, succeeding Mr. Lorenzo Maynard. Messrs. Oelbermann, Dommerich & Co. continued as the ??? agents of the company until it was assimilated into the American Woolen Company in May, 1899, Mr. Maynard remaining as resident agent.
Attached to the Assabet Mills is one of the finest water-powers in that section of the State. I n addition to the natural flow of the river there is a large storage basin of 300 acres, controlled exclusively by the company which has also a three quarters interest in a basin located in Marlboro, which was purchased from the city of Boston by Mr. Amory Maynard in 1859. This is now known as Fort Meadow Reservoir.
The indicated horse-power of the engines attached to the plant is 1,000, and that of the water-wheels 800, making a total of 1,800 horse-power. The equipment of the plant includes 66 sets woolen cards, 25,476 woolen spindles, and 324 looms. The plant comprises over a score of manufacturing and storehouse buildings, having a total floor space of 421,711 square feet.
The original mill was a wooden structure, but afterward a brick mill was built over the wooden frame, while the machinery was running. It is six stories in height, 170 by 50 feet, having a floor space of 51,000 square feet, Other important buildings include mill now known as No. 1, erected in 1866, which is 124 by 70 feet, four stories in height; mill No. 5, erected in 1868, 157 by 50 feet, of four stories; mill No. 6, 60 by 30 feet, two stories; mill No. 7, which is the largest in the plant, 225 by 60 feet, five stories in height; mill No. 8, 200 by 45 feet, four stories; all of which were erected in 1872; and mill No. 26, 150 by 6o feet, four stories in height, which was erected in 1892. The property attached to the plant amounts to about seventy-five acres.
ASSABET MILLS
MAYNARD, MASS.
The Assabet Mills were founded by Mr. Amory Maynard, a native of Marlboro, Mass., who in 1845 purchased the water-power at the site of the present plant. In partnership with William H. Knight of Saxonville, a mill was erected and designed for the manufacture of carpets and carpet yarn. On this production the plant began active operation in 1847.
This mill, the nucleus of the present plant, was a wooden structure 100 by 50 feet, and in its first year of operation it produced carpets and yarn to the value of $110,000. The plant was increased quite rapidly, new buildings of brick being added from time to time as business warranted.
On September 10, 1862, the Assabet Manufacturing Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Massachusetts, with T. A. Goddard as president, T. Quincy Browne, treasurer, and Amory Maynard as agent. Messis. Augustus and Charles P. Hemmenway were largely interested in the stock of the company, the latter succeeding t o the presidency upon the death of Mr. Goddard. Mr. Hemmenway was followed in turn by Mr. W . H . Hill of Boston.
During Mr. Maynard's agency the raw material was bought and the finished product was sold direct. This policy was also pursued after Mr. Maynard had retired and up until 1898, when the goods were sold through Messrs. Oelbermann, Dommerich & Co., of New York City.
Mr. Amory Maynard retired from the active management of the company in 1885 on account of ill health. He was succeeded by his nephew, Mr. Lorenzo Maynard.
The entire construction of the plant, with the exception of the erection of one mill, 180 by 6o feet, was practically consummated during the agency of Mr. Maynard.
In 1898, Mr. Amory Maynard, a grandson of the founder of the plant, was placed in charge of the mills, succeeding Mr. Lorenzo Maynard. Messrs. Oelbermann, Dommerich & Co. continued as the ??? agents of the company until it was assimilated into the American Woolen Company in May, 1899, Mr. Maynard remaining as resident agent.
Attached to the Assabet Mills is one of the finest water-powers in that section of the State. I n addition to the natural flow of the river there is a large storage basin of 300 acres, controlled exclusively by the company which has also a three quarters interest in a basin located in Marlboro, which was purchased from the city of Boston by Mr. Amory Maynard in 1859. This is now known as Fort Meadow Reservoir.
The indicated horse-power of the engines attached to the plant is 1,000, and that of the water-wheels 800, making a total of 1,800 horse-power. The equipment of the plant includes 66 sets woolen cards, 25,476 woolen spindles, and 324 looms. The plant comprises over a score of manufacturing and storehouse buildings, having a total floor space of 421,711 square feet.
The original mill was a wooden structure, but afterward a brick mill was built over the wooden frame, while the machinery was running. It is six stories in height, 170 by 50 feet, having a floor space of 51,000 square feet, Other important buildings include mill now known as No. 1, erected in 1866, which is 124 by 70 feet, four stories in height; mill No. 5, erected in 1868, 157 by 50 feet, of four stories; mill No. 6, 60 by 30 feet, two stories; mill No. 7, which is the largest in the plant, 225 by 60 feet, five stories in height; mill No. 8, 200 by 45 feet, four stories; all of which were erected in 1872; and mill No. 26, 150 by 6o feet, four stories in height, which was erected in 1892. The property attached to the plant amounts to about seventy-five acres.
Storage
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