Lincoln Mill and Mill Village Historic District facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Lincoln Mill and Mill Village Historic District
|
|
Mill No. 3 in October 2011
|
|
 Location in Alabama
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Bounded by Meridian St., Oakwood Ave., Front St., Mountain View Dr., Davidson St., Cottage St, and King Ave., Huntsville, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Area | 52 acres (21 ha) |
| Architectural style | Bungalow/Craftsman, Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 10000200 |
| Added to NRHP | April 26, 2010 |
The Lincoln Mill and Mill Village Historic District is a special area in Huntsville, Alabama. It's known for its old cotton mill and the houses built for the workers who lived there. The mill first opened in 1900 and quickly became the biggest cotton mill in Huntsville during the early 1900s. After it closed in 1955, parts of the mill were used by the U.S. space program. Even though some buildings burned down, one main mill building and many of the original worker houses are still standing today. This historic district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2010, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
History of Lincoln Mill
The Lincoln Mill started in 1900. It was first called the Madison Spinning Company. The original building was built on Oakwood Avenue. By 1903, the mill needed more money to keep running. New investors joined, including William Lincoln Barrell.
Early Challenges and New Beginnings
Even with new money, the mill closed in 1906. It reopened in 1908 under a new name: Abingdon Mills. Abingdon built a new mill building in 1915. They added more to it in 1916 and again in 1918. This made the mill much bigger. They also built 47 houses and the first school for the village.
Despite growing, Abingdon went out of business in 1918. William Barrell bought the company. Production started again later that year. This time, it was called Lincoln Mill.
Growth and Expansion
The next ten years saw huge growth for the mill and its village. The company began building 40 more duplexes (houses for two families) and apartment buildings. These were built north of Oakwood Avenue. This area became known as Lincoln Village.
A large new mill building was built in 1923–24. It cost $2 million and was about 70,000 square meters (750,000 square feet). A dye house was built soon after. The mill then had 1,000 workers. They also built 600 more houses and apartments for the growing number of employees. Another expansion in 1927 added more units and 500 houses south of the mill. At its peak, the mill had 2,000 employees. In 1928, a mill store and community center were built. A larger school followed in 1929.
Later Years and New Uses
Production slowed down during the Great Depression. It stopped completely in 1934. From July to September 1934, workers went on strike. This caused problems in Huntsville. Business got better during World War II. However, no new buildings were added to the mill or village.
In 1955, another worker strike happened. The mill closed that same year. The mill buildings were then changed into offices. Some of these offices were used by the space industry. For example, the Apollo Lunar Roving Vehicle was designed in the mill. The two oldest mill buildings burned down in 1980. The remaining Mill No. 3 has been updated. It now holds offices, a microbrewery, loft apartments, and a school for children with learning disabilities. The renovations focus on using sustainable (environmentally friendly) methods.
Architecture of the District
The only original factory buildings left are Mill No. 3 and the dye house. Both were built in 1924. These buildings are made of strong reinforced concrete. They have tall, multi-pane windows with steel frames.
Key Buildings
The Lincoln School, built in 1929, looks similar. It has large sections of windows separated by thick concrete columns. The old company store is now a theater and antique shop. It also has a similar look, with large windows and storefronts at street level.
Residential Buildings
Most of the remaining buildings in the district are homes. The largest is the two-story Superintendent's House. It is built in the Colonial Revival style. It has been updated and is now used as offices.
Most of the worker houses are duplexes (two-family homes). There are also twelve apartment buildings and a few single-family homes. Many of the duplexes are one-story with a hipped roof (a roof that slopes on all four sides). They have two front doors under a small shed roof porch. The apartment buildings are similar but have multiple units. They have separate gable roof (a roof with two sloping sides) porches.
Other house styles include different roof shapes and layouts. While mostly plain, the houses do show some simple Craftsman details. This includes exposed wood under the roof. All the houses are made of wood frames covered in stucco (a type of plaster).
