Stafford Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Stafford Mills
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | County and Quarry Sts., Fall River, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1872 |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| MPS | Fall River MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000718 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1983 |
Stafford Mills is an old factory building in Fall River, Massachusetts. It is located on County Street. This large group of buildings was started in 1872. It is a good example of the many factories built in Fall River. These factories were built when the city was growing very quickly. The mill is famous for its beautiful brick office building. This building has a special design called Romanesque. The whole Stafford Mills complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it is an important historical site.
Contents
About the Stafford Mills Buildings
The Stafford Mills complex covers about 7 acres. This is a large area. It is found at the corner of Quarry and County Streets. The complex has many buildings connected together. Most of these buildings were built at different times.
Main Mill Buildings
There are two main factory buildings. Both are five stories tall. They are made from strong stone called Fall River granite. Mill Number 2 is a bit bigger than Mill Number 1. Mill Number 1 also has a large two-story shed. This shed was used for weaving cloth. It is attached to the northern end of the building. It is a bit unusual that these buildings do not have tall towers. Towers were a common feature on many old mills.
Other Structures
Inside the mill yard, between the two main buildings, are other structures. These include a picker house and a boiler house. They are also made of granite. The picker house was where raw cotton was cleaned. The boiler house held the machines that made steam power for the mill.
The Office Building
The office building stands in the middle of the southern part of the mill yard. It faces County Street. This building is two stories tall. It is made of brick and has a Romanesque design. This design is known for its round arches and strong, simple shapes.
A Look at Stafford Mills History
The Stafford Mills company was officially started in 1870. Foster H. Stafford was its first president. The two main mill buildings were built in 1872 and 1888. The special office building was added later, in 1892.
What the Mill Produced
The company made "print cloths." These were plain cotton fabrics. They were often used to print patterns on. The mill operated for many years. It finally closed down in 1929.
Stafford Mills Today
Today, the Stafford Mills complex is still in use. It is home to many different small businesses. You can also find a discount furniture store there. The area in front of the mill is an important intersection. It is where County Street, Pleasant Street, and Quarry Street meet. This spot is known as Stafford Square.
Recent Events
On January 13, 2020, Stafford Mills had a big fire. This fire caused damage to the buildings. Many of the businesses that rented space there had to move out.
