Plainfield Woolen Company Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Plainfield Woolen Company Mill
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Location | Main St., Plainfield, Connecticut |
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Area | 8 acres (3.2 ha) |
Built | 1901 |
Architect | Franklin, Hiram |
NRHP reference No. | 85001919 |
Added to NRHP | August 29, 1985 |
The Plainfield Woolen Company Mill is a really old building in Plainfield, Connecticut. It was built way back in 1901. This mill was super important for helping the town's economy. At that time, the local economy wasn't doing very well.
For many years, until 1984, people made fabrics there. The mill looks special because of its unique roof, called a "monitor roof." In 1985, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's a very important historical site. Today, the building has been turned into apartments.
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Exploring the Plainfield Woolen Mill
The Plainfield Woolen Company Mill is located in the southern part of Plainfield's Centre Village. You can find it on the west side of Main Street. It's close to where Main Street meets Norwich Road.
What Does the Mill Look Like?
The mill sits on about 8 acres of land. This land is between Main Street and the Moosup River. The river was very important because it provided power for the mill. There's also a mill pond southeast of the main building.
The mill is made up of several brick buildings connected together. They form a shape that looks a bit like the letter "J". The main part of the mill is four stories tall. It has a special roof called a monitor roof. This type of roof has a raised section in the middle with windows. These windows let in extra light and air.
A Look Back in Time
People have been using this spot for a long time, even before 1901. As early as 1827, there was another textile mill here. A textile mill is a factory where cloth is made.
However, the older mill faced many problems. It often got flooded, and it struggled to compete with newer, more efficient factories. Eventually, that first mill closed down.
The New Mill's Purpose
The Plainfield Woolen Company Mill was much bigger than the old one. It was built to make high-quality woolen fabrics. These fabrics were used for men's suits and coats. At its busiest time, the mill employed about 300 people. Most of the machines were operated by men.
The mill continued to make textiles for many years. It changed owners a few times, but it kept producing fabrics until 1984. It played a big part in the history of Plainfield.