Faribault Woolen Mill Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Faribault Woolen Mill Company (now Faribault Mill)
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Faribault Woolen Mills from the northwest
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 Location in Minnesota
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1500 2nd Avenue NW, Faribault, Minnesota |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1892–1971 |
| NRHP reference No. | 12000283 |
| Designated | May 23, 2012 |
Faribault Mill is a company in Faribault, Minnesota, USA. It makes many products from wool and cotton. These include blankets, throws, shawls, socks, and sheets. You can buy their products in their stores in Faribault and Edina, Minnesota. They also sell items across the United States through other shops.
The Faribault Mill building is very old and important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2012. This means it is recognized for its big role in Minnesota's history of making things. It was one of the largest and oldest wool factories in the state.
The factory closed down in 2009. But it reopened in September 2011 with new owners. Before it closed, Faribault Woolen Mills made more than half of all new wool blankets in the U.S. It was one of the few wool factories left in the country.
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The Mill Building: A Look Inside and Out
The Faribault Woolen Mill building has grown a lot over more than 100 years. It is a practical building, mostly rectangular in shape. Some parts are one story tall, while others are two or three stories. The walls are made of brick, concrete blocks, and metal. This gives the building a strong, industrial look.
Outside the building, there is a large parking lot. The mill is in an area with other factories. The outside of the building is simple and does not have many decorations.
Inside the Factory
The company put most of its money into the inside of the building. This was to make the manufacturing process work better. The machines were last updated in 1971. The newest part of the building was also added around that time.
The inside of the building also looks like a factory. Except for the main offices, it has a very industrial feel. The older parts of the building have wooden frames and brick walls.
History of Faribault Mill: From Past to Present
Before the American Civil War, most wool products in the U.S. came from other countries. After the war, more wool items were made in America. This happened as the country became more industrial. New laws in 1867 also helped wool makers. These laws protected American companies and helped them compete. Many wool manufacturing companies started in Minnesota in the 1860s.
Early Days and Family Growth
The Faribault Woolen Mill began as a small family business in the 1800s. It grew to be the biggest and longest-lasting wool factory in Minnesota. Carl Henry Klemer started in the wool business in 1865. He kept his business small and family-focused. While bigger factories failed, the Klemer family kept growing.
In 1878, the company first advertised as the "Faribault Woolen Mill." Four years later, Klemer moved the business to a stone building. This new location was by the Straight River.
Overcoming Challenges: Fires and New Locations
Over the next ten years, three fires badly damaged the mill. In 1892, the building was completely destroyed. The Klemers then bought land by the Cannon River. They quickly built a new brick building that was fireproof. In 1894, they replaced the wooden dam that powered the factory with a stone one. Throughout the 1890s, the mill served local customers and kept growing.
New Leadership and Wartime Production
In 1904, the founder Carl Klemer passed away. His oldest grandson, Frank Klemer, joined the business. Other family members also became involved. In 1905, the company officially became the Faribault Woolen Mill Company.
Growth was slow in the early 1900s. But the new leaders brought in new products and made small additions to the factory. In 1917, the company won a contract to make 100,000 blankets for the United States Army. This was a huge success and helped the business grow in the 1920s.
During the 1930s, the next generation of the Klemer family joined the company. The company survived and even grew during the Great Depression. During World War II, the mill made blankets for the army again. After the war, the younger Klemers took over managing the company. They focused on marketing and trying new materials like synthetic fibers. They also started importing wool.
Modern Innovations and Recent Changes
The factory slowly grew throughout the second half of the 1900s. Faribault Woolen Mills became a leader with new products. These included wool that could be washed and special thermal weave blankets. In the early 1970s, the company made its biggest profits. It also added the largest expansion to its factory.
In the 1990s, the Mill started to have problems. It was bought by another company, North American Heritage Brands. But the Klemers still managed it. North American Heritage Brands went out of business. So, in 2009, the mill closed.
In the fall of 2011, cousins Chuck and Paul Mooty bought the Faribault Woolen Mill. They reopened the business. From 2011 to 2020, the Mooty family ran the brand and marketing for Faribault Woolen Mill.
Expanding and Achieving Success
In early 2020, Paul Mooty teamed up with an investment group. This group was led by Paul Grangaard, who is now the Chairman. At that time, Grangaard brought in new leaders. These included Ross Widmoyer, the current President and CEO, and Rick Dow, the Chief Marketing Officer.
They bought another company called Brahms Mount Cotton from Maine. This helped Faribault Woolen Mill offer cotton products too. Because of this, the company changed its name to "Faribault Mill."
Since 2020, Faribault Mill has done many great things. They have launched over 100 new products. They have also had record sales growth for four years in a row. They started the "Spread the Warmth" campaign, giving thousands of blankets to young people without homes across the USA. They have also spent millions of dollars to update their factories. This has made things more efficient and created more jobs.
The Mill has also been shown on TV and in news programs. Some of these include "Yellowstone," "1923," and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." They have also been featured on "The Today Show" and "ABC News."
See also
