Lehigh Valley Silk Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lehigh Valley Silk Mills
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Lipps & Sutton Silk Mill. June 2013.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jct. of Seneca and Clewell Sts., Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1.7 acres (0.69 ha) |
| Built | 1886–1904 |
| Architect | A.W. Leh, J. Stewart Allam |
| Architectural style | Vernacular |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000356 |
| Added to NRHP | April 29, 1993 |
The Lehigh Valley Silk Mills were a group of factories in a place called the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. This industry started in 1881 and grew a lot during the Industrial Revolution. The name also refers to a company that owned two specific factories: the Lipps & Sutton Silk Mill and the Warren Mill.
The very first factory that made silk in the Lehigh Valley opened in 1881. Many more followed soon after. By 1900, there were 23 silk factories in the Lehigh Valley. This made Pennsylvania the second largest producer of silk in the world! The silk industry in Pennsylvania was at its best in the late 1920s. This was partly because workers, especially immigrant families, were paid less.
However, after the Great Depression, things changed. Workers wanted better pay and other textile industries started to compete. This made it harder for silk factories. By 1953, Allentown was known as the top silk city in the world. But even then, fewer machines were being used. Only six factories still made only silk. Other factories either closed down or started making new types of fabric.
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How the Silk Industry Grew
As the United States entered the Gilded Age, people wanted fancy silk clothes more and more. In the late 1800s, silk became popular with the growing middle class. They wanted to dress like the rich people of the time. The American silk industry grew to meet this demand.
After the American Civil War, a silk industry started in Paterson, New Jersey. Factory owners there relied on skilled workers. These workers wanted good pay and working conditions. By 1880, new machines changed how silk was made. Factory owners then looked for new places to build mills. They wanted areas with lots of workers who would work for lower pay.
Around this time, the railroad building boom ended in 1873. This caused problems for the iron industry. Many iron factories in the Lehigh Valley closed. Business leaders in the Lehigh Valley saw a chance to bring in silk factories. They told silk producers about their good railroads and steady supply of coal power. They also advertised that they had many workers who were not part of unions, which meant lower wages.
Early Silk Factories in the Lehigh Valley
People were interested in silk in the Lehigh Valley as early as 1762. But the industry didn't really start until November 1881. That's when The Adelaide Silk Mill opened. It was the first big silk factory in the Lehigh Valley. The R.H. Simon Silk Mill opened soon after in 1883.
By 1900, there were 23 silk factories in the Lehigh Valley. This made Pennsylvania the world's second-largest silk producer. Only New Jersey made more. Between 1881 and 1989, as many as 224 factories made silk in the Lehigh Valley. The silk industry was at its peak in the late 1920s. During this time, it was the biggest employer in Allentown. In 1928, the best year for production, 106 factories were working at the same time in the Lehigh Valley.
Silk factories came to the Lehigh Valley because it had water, power, and workers. The machines in the factories needed constant care. These jobs were good for women and children of that time. Factories were often built near mines and other heavy industries. This was because men would come to work there, bringing their families. Their wives and children might then find jobs in the silk mills.
The R&H Simon Silk Company
In 1883, Easton formed its first "industrial association." This group wanted to bring businesses to Easton. They worked with a silk company from New Jersey. Robert and Herman Simon moved their company from Union Hill, New Jersey, to Easton. The R&H Simon Company built factories along 13th Street in Easton.
At first, the company had 250 workers. By 1899, it grew to 1,060 workers. Eventually, the factory employed 1,200 people and had 1,500 machines. The R&H Simon Silk Company became the world's largest maker of black silk ribbon. At one point, it employed up to 2,000 workers at its Easton factory.
Robert and Herman Simon died in 1901. This started a big change for the company. The Easton Industrial Corporation managed the company for many years. In 2006, the property was given to the City of Easton.
One of the most important people in the American silk industry was Desiderius George Dery. He also lived in the Lehigh Valley. By 1920, he was the biggest single producer of silk in the world. Eight of his 15 factories were in the Lehigh Valley.
Why the Silk Industry Declined
The silk industry in the Lehigh Valley started to decline because of the Great Depression. Also, new factories opened in the South, and new types of fabrics were invented. After the Great Depression, workers wanted better conditions. This affected the industry everywhere.
After reaching its peak in the 1920s, the silk industry suffered a lot during the Great Depression. The Lehigh Valley lost at least 58 silk factories between 1929 and 1939. Many new factories were opening in the South. This was because labor was cheaper there.
During World War II, the supply of silk from Japan was cut off. After the war, new man-made fibers like nylon were developed. These new materials replaced silk in many clothes. Some factories tried to keep going by switching to Rayon or other materials. By 1953, Allentown, which had been the top silk city, had 80 percent fewer machines. Only six factories still worked only with silk.
In the next few decades, there was more competition from other countries. These countries had lower wages. The Catoir Silk Co., which started in 1918, was the last silk factory in Allentown. It closed in 1989. The industry ended because of globalization from the 1960s to the 1980s. This brought cheaper goods made in other countries. Low-wage labor had brought the silk industry to the Lehigh Valley. But it was also what caused it to leave.
Child Labor and Women in the Workforce
In the late 1800s, it was common for children to work in Pennsylvania silk factories. Many families needed the extra money to survive. Adult men earned about $485 a year, and adult women earned about $345. But children, both boys and girls, earned only about $143 a year. This big difference in wages made child labor attractive to factory owners. It quickly brought manufacturers to the Lehigh Valley.
Between 1880 and 1925, the value of silk products made in Pennsylvania increased ten times. At this time, child workers were the cheapest way to make more money. By 1907, children made up about 30% of the workers in Pennsylvania silk factories. Many of them were under the legal working age of 12.
Changes in Child Labor Laws
Even though child labor continued, a movement to help children was growing. People wanted children to stay in school and out of the silk factories. During the Progressive Era, journalists and groups like the National Child Labor Committee (NCLC) studied and shared information about the dangers of work for children.
This committee pushed for laws that would limit how many hours young people could work. They also wanted to set a minimum legal working age. Between 1900 and 1920, these changes slowly happened. But there were many problems. State factory inspectors didn't always make sure factories followed the new rules. Also, many families still needed their children's wages.
Despite these challenges, children's wages started to grow. Soon after, children between 12 and 15 years old were slowly phased out of the silk factory workforce. This change in setting a minimum legal working age led to more women working in the factories instead of children.
Women in the Silk Industry
In 1925, a study in the Lehigh Valley looked at immigrant women. It showed a big change in the number of wives and mothers working in the silk industry. In the early 1900s, silk factories hired many girls under 18. They worked to help their families during tough economic times. In places like Allentown and South Bethlehem, there were two or three times more girls under 18 working than women over 25.
As the 1900s continued, starting around the 1920s, the age of women working changed a lot. New laws pushed young females out of the industry. This new legislation led to more married women working in factories.
The shift from child labor to adult, married women working was a goal for many reformers. This might have seemed hard to achieve in the late 1800s and early 1900s. As families needed more money, they often needed more than one person earning income. Wages at silk factories were often low. But any income was better than none. Even with the new laws, some parents still kept their kids out of work until they were well over the legal age of fourteen. By the late 1920s, it was widely accepted for women to work outside the home. This helped families earn more money. Also, young children could stay in school longer. This helped them learn more and prepare for their future.
Old Silk Mills Get a New Life
Many of the old silk mills in the Lehigh Valley are being used again today. They are being turned into new homes, shops, and offices.
R&H Simon Silk Mill
The R&H Simon Silk Mill was built in 1883 in Easton, Pennsylvania. It was bought by the Easton Redevelopment Authority in 2006. Developers started a $50 million project in 2010 to fix it up. The plans for the mill include 150 apartments and lots of space for businesses. The new buildings will keep some of the original brick walls and wood floors. A piece of old factory machinery will even be placed outside. The apartments were ready for people to move in by spring 2016. This project is very important for Easton's future. It's meant to be a place where artists can live and work together. The R&H Simon Silk Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014.
Dery Silk Mill
The Dery Silk Mill is in Catasauqua, PA. Desiderius George Dery built it in 1897. It's an L-shaped building with three stories. It used to employ 400 workers. Renovations started in 1984 to fix the walls and windows. Now, it's an apartment complex with 35 units. It has restored maple wood floors and new living spaces.
Adelaide Silk Mill
The Adelaide Silk Mill opened in November 1881. Businessmen from Allentown built it for the Phoenix Manufacturing Co. from New Jersey. It's a U-shaped building in Allentown, near the Jordan Creek. The mill was redeveloped after it closed in 1964. It has been used as an antique market, a gym, and other businesses. There were plans in 2013 to turn the two buildings into 150 apartments and business spaces. But the local school board and county leaders voted against it.
Bethlehem Silk Mill
The Bethlehem Silk Mill is in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. In 2006, it was being turned into student apartments for Moravian College. But a fire broke out when the project was almost finished. This ended Moravian College's involvement. The complex was bought again in 2008. The new owner continued the plans to make apartments. As of 2012, some parts of the property were sold to build even more apartments. The Bethlehem Silk Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Lipps & Sutton Silk Mills
The Lipps & Sutton Silk Mill is in Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania. In the early 1990s, this mill was completely redeveloped. It now has apartments, town offices, and the police station. The buildings were fixed up using special tax credits for historic places. In 1993, the mill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This was because it was one of the first mills in the area during the Industrial Revolution. Today, it holds the main offices for Fountain Hill Borough.
Gallery
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Lipps & Sutton Silk Mill, central part.
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Lipps & Sutton Silk Mill, north wing.
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Warren Mill, south-west corner.
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Warren Mill, tower.
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Warren Mill, back yard.
