Wamsutta Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wamsutta Mills
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| Location | Acushnet Ave., Logan, Wamsutta and N. Front St., New Bedford, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 19.3 acres (7.8 ha) |
| Built | 1847 |
| Architect | Thomas Bennett Jr, Edward Kilburn |
| Architectural style | Utilitarian industrial |
| NRHP reference No. | 08000794 |
| Added to NRHP | August 19, 2008 |
The Wamsutta Mills was once a big company that made fabrics. Today, "Wamsutta" is a well-known brand for things like bedding and other items for your home.
This company was started by Thomas Bennett Jr. in 1846. It opened its doors in 1848 in New Bedford, Massachusetts, right by the Acushnet River. The name "Wamsutta" comes from the son of a Native American chief. This chief had made an important agreement with the English settlers of the Plymouth Colony.
Wamsutta Mills was the very first fabric factory in New Bedford. Over time, making cotton fabric became more important than whaling (hunting whales) in the town. By the 1870s, fabric making was New Bedford's main business. Wamsutta Mills became famous for making high-quality fabrics for shirts, sheets, and other cotton products. The Wamsutta brand is still sold today by companies like Bed Bath & Beyond in North America and Springs Global in South America.
Contents
How Wamsutta Mills Started
Planning the Mills
Thomas Bennett Jr. from nearby Fairhaven, Massachusetts first thought of building the Wamsutta Mills. He originally wanted to build the factory in Georgia. But a very important investor, Congressman Joseph Grinnell, insisted that the mill be built in his hometown, New Bedford.
On April 8, 1846, the new company officially received its permission to operate from the state of Massachusetts. By mid-1847, Bennett had collected $160,000 to build the mill. Most of this money came from small investments from New Bedford business people. They weren't very familiar with making fabric, so they were a bit unsure. In 1847, the first meeting of the company's owners took place. Joseph Grinnell was chosen as the president. Thomas Bennett Jr. became the secretary and also managed the mills from 1846 to 1874.
Building the First Factories
Construction on the first mill began in 1847. It was designed by Seth Ingalls. This first building was made of stone and had five stories. It was about 212 feet (65 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) wide.
Fabric production started in February 1849. The company also built homes for its workers. Soon, the business grew very quickly. By 1853, the company's value increased to $300,000. A second mill, with four stories, was built in 1855. It was 240 feet (73 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) wide.
A third mill, just like the second one, was built between 1860 and 1861. It opened in 1865. The delay was because of the American Civil War. By 1868, the company was worth $2,000,000, and a fourth, even bigger mill was built. Mill No. 4 was made of brick and had four stories. It was 495 feet (151 m) long and 70 feet (21 m) wide.
Growing the Business
Thomas Bennett Jr. stopped being the manager in 1874. Edward Kilburn took his place. The company kept growing. By 1875, the company's value reached $2,500,000. Wamsutta also started shipping its products to Australia.
Mill 5 was added next to Mill No. 4. It was also made of brick and was 433 feet (132 m) long and 93 feet (28 m) wide. Soon after, Wamsutta began making a type of fabric called percale. New Bedford became known as the first city in the United States to make such fine cotton fabrics.
A famous textile leader named William Madison Wood started his career at Wamsutta Mills. He worked there from 1873 to 1876, starting at age fifteen. In 1882, construction began on Mill number 6. It was also made of brick, had three stories, and was 569 feet (173 m) long and 95 feet (29 m) wide.
Wamsutta's Success
By 1883, Wamsutta Mills had six factories. They produced 26 million yards of cotton cloth every year! Joseph Grinnell remained president until he passed away in 1885 at 96 years old. Other leaders then took his place.
By 1892, Wamsutta owned a total of seven mills. It was the largest cotton weaving factory in the world! By 1897, Wamsutta was using 4,450 looms (machines that weave fabric) and had 2,100 workers.
In 1917, the company planned a big update. They replaced old machines and switched from steam power to electricity. They also started focusing on fine sheets and pillowcases. They launched advertising campaigns to sell these products to the public. At this time, the company had 229,000 spindles (machines that spin thread) and 4,310 looms.
Before the Great Depression in the 1920s, many fabric towns in the northern U.S., including New Bedford, faced tough times. During this period, four factories in New Bedford closed. In the next ten years, almost two dozen more closed. However, Wamsutta actually increased its sales in 1925 while other companies were shutting down.
By 1935, their famous sheets were called Supercale instead of percale. They also created a new product called Lustercale. This was a mix of 60% cotton and 40% rayon, which felt like cotton but was softer. Later, Lustercale became 100% cotton. Wamsutta also made the perfect fabric for sails on ships. Because of wars, they even made fabrics for hot air balloons, gas masks, and military uniforms. Many other types of fabric were created for different uses. To this day, Wamsutta is still a well-known name for fabrics in homes.
Wamsutta Today
In modern times, Wamsutta is a brand name owned by Springs Global, a large fabric company from Brazil. However, in North America, the brand is owned by Bed Bath & Beyond. Bed Bath & Beyond bought the brand from Springs Global in June 2012. Springs Global still has the right to sell Wamsutta products in South America.
In 2004, the old Wamsutta Mills buildings in Massachusetts were planned for a new use. Officials in New Bedford decided to redevelop the historic complex. The renovation will include new apartments with up to three bedrooms.
See also
