Western Knitting Mills facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Western Knitting Mills
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| Location | 400 Water St., Rochester, Michigan |
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| Area | 2.8 acres (1.1 ha) |
| Built | 1896 |
| Architectural style | Early Commercial |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000646 |
| Added to NRHP | June 9, 2000 |
The Western Knitting Mills is an old factory building in Rochester, Michigan. It's located at 400 Water Street. This building has been updated and now holds different businesses. One of them is the Rochester Mills Beer Company. This historic building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000.
Contents
History of the Western Knitting Mills
Early Mills and Fires
The story of this location began in 1844. A man named Hosea B. Richardson built a mill here. It was used to prepare wool and make cloth. Sadly, this first building was destroyed by a fire in 1867.
Soon after, a new factory was built. It was called the Rochester Woolen Mill. Hosea's son, Samuel Richardson, bought it. Samuel also owned another company, the Western Knitting Works, in Detroit. The new mill made wool products. But in 1882, another fire destroyed this building too.
Building the New Factory
In 1891, the owners of the Western Knitting Works bought out Samuel Richardson. They changed the company's name to Western Knitting Mills Inc. They also moved their main office to Rochester. The company built another mill in Middleville, Michigan. Then, in 1896, they started building the factory you see today in Rochester.
The factory built in 1896 was shaped like a "U." It had a tall, three-story watchtower on one corner. The village used this tower to watch for fires at night. The mill was very large, about 60,000 square feet. It even had its own power station that used water. There were also two big warehouses and two dormitories for workers. A railroad track went right to the factory.
What the Mill Made
At first, the mill made knitted wool socks, gloves, and mittens. This continued until 1916. After that, it started making wool cloth. Over time, the "U" shape of the factory was filled in, making it a square. In 1916, they added more space for making cloth. During World War I, the factory made khaki gloves for U.S. soldiers.
Later Years and New Uses
After World War I, business slowed down. The mill closed in 1927. In 1929, a company from Wisconsin bought the factory. They planned to make yarn and knitted cloth. However, the Great Depression started, and the mill had to close again in 1931. It opened briefly in 1933 but then closed for good.
From the 1940s onward, several other companies used the factory. These included McAleer Manufacturing Company and ITT-Higbie. The last company, ITT-Higbie, closed the plant in 1993. In 1997, private owners bought the building. They updated it to rent out to businesses. Many other buildings on the property were taken down, leaving only the 1896 mill. The Rochester Mills Beer Company opened in the building in 1998. It still uses the ground floor today.
About the Building Today
The Western Knitting Mills factory is a two-story building made of brick. It was built in the late 1800s. The building is square-shaped, measuring 140 feet by 150 feet. It has a flat roof and a strong foundation made of fieldstone.
The building has eight sections on each side. These sections are separated by brick columns that stick out from the wall. The north side of the building used to be the inside of the "U" shape. It has three sections on each side of what was once a courtyard. Each section has two windows with arched tops. The window sills and the top edges of the walls are made of stone. The main entrance faces a parking lot. It has a tall wall above it with the building's name carved into it, making it a key feature.
The Fire Tower
There is a three-story fire tower on one corner of the building. The original tower was taken down in the early 1900s. But it was rebuilt during the updates in 1997-1998. The tower has a sloped roof with small windows sticking out on each side.
Gallery
