Whittall Mills facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Whittall Mills
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. Historic district
Location in Massachusetts Show map of Massachusetts Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	12 Brussels St., Worcester, Massachusetts
Built	1890
Architectural style	Colonial Revival
MPS	Worcester MRA
NRHP reference No.	80000490
Added to NRHP	March 5, 1980

The Whittall Mills is a group of old factory buildings in Worcester, Massachusetts. These buildings were constructed between 1870 and 1930. They remind us of a time when making carpets was a very big business in the city. The complex has 15 brick buildings. They are located near the Middle River, which flows into the Blackstone River.

Discovering the Whittall Mills

The Whittall Mills is an important historical site. It shows how factories used to look and work. The buildings are made of brick and stand together. They are a great example of industrial history.

Early Days of Carpet Making

The story of the mills began around 1870. The first building still standing was built by the Crompton Rug Company. It was a three-story brick building. A few years later, a dye house was added. This is where fabrics were colored.

In 1879, Crompton Rug Company closed down. William Hogg then rented these buildings. He later started the Worcester Carpet Company. This company grew and added another large mill. They also bought more rights to use water from the river in 1893.

Matthew Whittall's Big Business

Matthew Whittall was a smart businessman. He first worked as a manager at Crompton Rug. In 1874, he opened his own factory in another part of Worcester. His business grew quickly.

By 1883, Matthew Whittall bought land next to the old Crompton works. Over the next 23 years, he built many more buildings there. His company became very successful.

Whittall's Impact on Worcester

Around the time of World War I, Whittall's company was the largest employer in south Worcester. It had 1,500 workers. They operated 350 machines in a huge factory space. This space was about 500,000 square feet.

Whittall's carpets were very high quality. The United States government bought them for its buildings. Even President William McKinley chose Whittall carpets for the White House. This shows how important and well-known the company was.

A New Chapter for the Mills

Matthew Whittall sold the mills in 1950. The buildings continued to be used for different purposes. In 1980, the Whittall Mills were added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are recognized as important historical sites.

Images for kids

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  Matthew J. Whittall

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  Company logo