A. H. Rice Silk Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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A. H. Rice Silk Mill
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 55 Spring St., Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1874 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 15000047 |
| Added to NRHP | March 2, 2015 |
The A. H. Rice Silk Mill is a historic building in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. It was once a very important factory. This building used to be a busy place where special silk products were made. Today, it has been changed into homes.
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What is the A. H. Rice Silk Mill?
The A. H. Rice Silk Mill is a group of old factory buildings. It is located in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. These buildings were used to make different kinds of fabrics and cords. The mill was a big part of Pittsfield's history.
A Look Back: The Mill's History
The first part of the mill was built in 1876. It was first used as a factory for wool. In 1887, a man named William Bainbridge Rice bought the building. He started his own company there. This company made silk products.
The factory grew bigger in 1895. Rice bought another silk factory from New Jersey. He moved all its machines to Pittsfield. By the early 1900s, the Rice Company was one of the largest businesses in Pittsfield.
What Was Made Here?
The A. H. Rice Silk Mill made many special materials. They were very famous for their braided silk cord. They also made silk cords for parachutes. Later, they even made parachute cords from nylon. The factory continued to make silk cords until 2006.
The Mill Building Today
The mill complex is located just outside downtown Pittsfield. It is in a neighborhood called Morningside. The area covers about 3 acres. It is surrounded by Burbank Street, Spring Street, and Cherry Street.
The complex has five brick buildings. They are all connected. These buildings were built between 1876 and 1947. They are two or three stories tall. The buildings were designed to be very strong. They have thick brick walls. Inside, they have heavy wooden frames. This design helped protect them from fires.
The windows are set in arched openings. They have granite sills. When the buildings were changed into homes, some ground-floor windows became new entrances.
A Special Historic Place
The A. H. Rice Silk Mill is a very important part of history. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. This list helps protect important historic sites in the United States.
