Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clinton, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1864 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004107 |
| Added to NRHP | October 6, 1983 |
The Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills are a group of old factory buildings in Clinton, Massachusetts. These buildings were once home to the Bigelow Carpet Company, a very important business in Clinton for many years. The company made carpets and other fabrics.
This historic complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. Today, smaller businesses use the buildings for different purposes.
Contents
What are the Bigelow Mills?
The Bigelow Carpet Company Woolen Mills are located on the west side of downtown Clinton. They are surrounded by railroad tracks, Pine Street, and Main Street (Massachusetts Route 110).
The complex has eight large brick buildings that are connected. These were built between 1858 and 1898. There is also an older wooden building from around 1810. A small concrete storage shed was added in 1898.
Building Style
The brick buildings show off a style called Italianate. This was popular for factories in the 1800s. You can see this style in the many rows of arched windows. The buildings also have fancy brick designs near the roof. The main building even has a tall, decorated five-story tower!
History of the Bigelow Company
The Bigelow Company started in 1838. It was founded by two brothers, Erastus and Horatio Bigelow. They began their work in 1837, using the old wooden building. They first rented it, then bought it.
What They Made
The company made many different types of fabrics. They were very successful at making carpets. They also produced wire mesh fabrics and cotton gingham cloths.
Erastus Bigelow was a brilliant inventor. He created many new machines that made textile production faster and better. His inventions helped the company grow a lot.
Factory Closure
The Bigelow Company operated at this location until 1929. Then, it merged with another carpet company in Amsterdam, New York. Because of this merger, the Clinton factory closed its doors three years later, in 1932. Since then, other businesses have used these historic factory buildings.
