USA > Rhode Island > Providence County > History of Providence County, Rhode Island > Part 37
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75
October 8th, 1821, the building and the machinery of Dexter Bal- lou were conveyed to Daniel Lyman, and that family owned the property about half a century. August 6th, 1867, John W. Lyman, of Providence, sold the plant to the present owners, who also operate it in conjunction with the Bartlett Mill, but the name of Lyman remains firmly connected with the mill. The building is ancient in appear- ance and needs to be replaced.
The old Bartlett Mill was erected in 1827 by Daniel A. Daniels and is a four story stone building, 40 by 65 feet, having a capacity for 6,000 spindles. In this mill Daniels was a cotton spinner until the stringent times of 1829, when he failed and assigned to Joseph Rock- wood, of Bellingham, Mass. In 1831 the property passed to Dorr & Allen, and, after being owned by Lemuel May, was conveyed to John Bartlett July 3d, 1840. By him the mill was owned and operated 16 years, from which circumstance his name has been attached to it. Since 1863 the mill has belonged to the Ray family. In 1889 in these two mills there were operated 9,000 spindles and 90 looms, and 70 op- eratives were employed. These two mills, the Ballou and the Jenckes- ville mills, all operated by the Ray family, were superintended by the veteran mill man, Colonel L. C. Tourtellot, who, at the age of 83 years, was erect, hale and vigorous. Moses P. Roberts was the paymaster for the firm, and Charles H. Gorton, clerk.
The Ballou Mill is on the first manufacturing site below the falls, occupying the "old saw mill lot," where was started the first ma-
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY. 303
chinery in the city. The mill is a massive stone structure, erected in 1846 by George C. Ballou, and fitly perpetuates the name of a family which has done so much for the commercial prosperity of Woonsocket. In 1889 it was owned by J. P. & E. K. Ray, and was operated on cot- ton goods, Holland shade and print cloths. There were 16,000 spindles, 252 looms and 200 operatives.
At this place four members of the Ballou family were, at one time or other, interested in manufacturing-Oliver Ballou and his three sons, Dexter, Hosea and George C. Dexter Ballou has justly been called the pioneer of cotton spinning at Woonsocket, the honor applying not because he was the first to here engage in that occupa- tion, the operations at the Social Mill antedating his own seven years, but he was the first to here demonstrate the possibilities of the busi- ness by using improved machinery,“ and by persevering, in spite of obstacles, until the cotton factory was recognized as the very life of Woonsocket. After being in the old frame mill until its sale to Daniel Lyman, in 1821, Dexter Ballou and his father leased, May 1st, 1822, the "saw mill lot " of James Arnold, on which to build a new mill, and the old saw mill was now removed to the west side of the river, to the place where the Globe plant was afterward established. On this lot they erected a frame mill, 33 by 70 feet, with stone basement and two stories. In the basement were W. & D. D. Farnum, Samuel Shove was in the second story, and Oliver Ballou & Son (Dexter) oc- cupied the rest of the building. In 1827 Oliver Ballou disposed of his rights to his sons, Hosea and Dexter, who now occupied the entire building, operating as Dexter Ballou & Co. In less than a year Dex- ter Ballou purchased the interests of his brother, Hosea, and became the sole owner. The latter now began his operations on Lot No. 1, on which he erected the first brick mill in Woonsocket. He was a manufacturer on that lot until 1835, when he began operations on Lot No. 2, where he erected the building which became known as the Harris Mill No. 1. In 1846 Hosea Ballou sold this property to Sea- grave & Harris and retired from the village.
March 25th, 1829, the mill of Dexter Ballou on the " saw mill lot" was burned down, and with it a number of other buildings in that locality; but the brick mill of his brother, Hosea, on Lot No. 1, re- mained. In this, Dexter Ballou, nothing daunted, resumed his cotton spinning, and, prospering, erected on that lot what became widely known as the Harrison Mill. At the time of his death, July 17th, 1849, he was also the owner of the Social Mill, and was the foremost manufacturer in Woonsocket. He was a practical mill man, fearless, honest and thoroughly devoted to his chosen occupation.
Meantime, the ruins of the cotton mill, on the " saw mill lot," were being utilized by George C. Ballou. He had learned the carpenter's trade, but at the age of 28 years began spinning satinet warps in com-
*See account of Ray Mills.
-
304
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
pany with his brother, Hosea, at Waterford. After the fire in 1829 he came to. Woonsocket and carried on the business in part of the ruined mill and on Lot No. 1. In 1839 he purchased the old "saw mill lot " property and built up the old mill in an enlarged and improved con- dition, in which he engaged actively in manufacturing. After six years of successful operation this mill was again destroyed by fire January 23d, 1846, his loss being $24,000. But not discouraged by what seemed a calamitous loss, he at once proceeded to erect the stone mill now on that site, and of which he was the owner until it passed to the Ballou Manufacturing Campany. Of this corporation he was the president at the time of his death, March 25th, 1876, at the age of 78 years, fifty of which he had actively spent in the manufactur- ing affairs of Woonsocket. Like his brother Dexter he was aggres- sive in his operations, becoming interested in other corporations and building mills, whose magnitude was a marvel in those days. To his will and energy the city is indebted for the fine Globe Mill, which was built under his personal supervision and started in August, 1873. Unfortunately this enterprise proved too heavy a burden for the Ballou Manufacturing Company, and, in April, 1876, it was forced to make an assignment to Charles H. Merriman, Addison Q. Fisher and Josiah Lasell, who sold to the heirs of George C. Ballou the old stone mill, where, by his untiring energy, he had won his first fortune. In the course of years the mill passed to the present owners.
The Jenckesville Mills .-- The water privileges of Peter's river, at this point, were used, in the latter part of the last century, to oper- ate small mills and shops, and were owned in 1810 by Stephen Wil- cox. No other improvement was made until the era of cotton manu- facturing. In 1822 Job, Luke and Moses Jenckes, who had up to that time been connected with the Social Company, purchased this site and began the work of establishing cotton mills of their own. That year they erected a stone mill at the upper power, which was the first stone factory at Woonsocket. For those times it was a large and imposing building, and was a substantial beginning of a manufactur- ing hamlet, which has from that time been known as Jenckesville, but which has become fully included in the bounds of the city by its growth in that direction.
The success of the Messrs. Jenckes led them to erect another larger and finer stone mill at the lower power in 1828, and also to build, the same year, a large, square three story brick mansion in the same locality. Other improvements were made from time to time, chief among them being brick additions to the upper mill for spin- ning and weaving rooms, and the addition of steam power. The property was owned by the Jenckes family more than a quarter of a century, but, March 3d, 1860, it was sold by George and William A. Jenckes to O. J. Rathbun. Since 1872 it has been owned, and the mills have been operated by Ray, Rathbun & Co. In 1889 the mills
*
305
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
appeared in good repair, containing 12,000 spindles and 210 looms, which were worked on cotton print cloths; and 120 operatives were employed, under the superintendency of L. C. Tourtellot.
The Bernon Mills .- The value of the Cumberland purchase, made by Dan. A. Daniels, April 25th, 1821, was greatly increased when, October 27th, 1827, he purchased of James Arnold a tract of land op- posite, on the Smithfield side, which thus gave him good water power privileges at a new point. Here, in company with Jonathan Russell, he built a mill the same year, which was operated by these parties as the Russell Manufacturing Company. This company succumbed to the hard times in 1829, which wrecked Mr. Russell's fortunes as a manufacturer, " and he retired to his farm in Mendon, where he died in humble circumstances. He was a man of ability and had served as one of the commissioners at the Treaty of Ghent .* " The build- ings erected by the company, being separate from the other parts of the town, formed a little hamlet, which, in compliment to the owner, received the name of Danville. March 30th, 1831, the estates of Dan. A. Daniels became the property of Sullivan Dorr and Crawford Allen. Samuel Greene came from Pawtucket to manage this Woonsocket business of Dorr & Allen and until his death, in October, 1868, he and his son Paul faithfully performed this trust. Under their intel- ligent and judicious direction Bernon became a model manufactur- ing plant.
The firm here transacted business under the name of the Woon- socket Company, which was chartered in 1832, and of which Crawford Allen was the treasurer. He wisely conceived the idea that beauty, order and neatness would elevate the moral tone of his employees and secure better service from them; and, seconded by Samuel Greene, they made a radical departure from the factory customs of that day. The grounds were tastefully laid out with broad avenues and adorned with trees, a better class of tenements were erected, and everywhere neatness and order prevailed. The place now received the name of Bernon, in compliment to the persecuted French Huguenot, Gabriel Bernon, who was an ancestor of Crawford Allen and also of L. C. Tourtellot, the master mechanic here until 1849, and as such it has become widely known.
In 1859 the company added to the buildings already in the plant, a brick and stone warehouse, 30 by 118 feet, which was the best in the town. A new mill, 46 by 80 feet, three stories high, was also built. In the fall of 1867 the the new Bernon dam was completed, at a cost of $30,000, and was regarded as the best modern structure of the kind on the Blackstone. It was 195 feet long.
After the death of Crawford Allen, in 1871, Moses B. I. Goddard be- came the manager of the estate and soon still further enlarged and improved the mills. In 1872 he supplied steam power, building a
* Richardson, p. 170.
20
306
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
chimney 100 feet high, and there was now power to operate 15,000 spindles and 337 looms in the manufacture of 64 by 64 print goods. Nearly 300 operatives were employed under the direction of superin- tendent R. G. Cornell.
The later history of the company was not one of prosperity. In April, 1883, its fine property was sold for $225,000, the purchasers being a board of trustees of the interested parties. Subsequently other disposition was made. The Electric Light Company became the owner of the mills and water right. Other parts of the estate have been sold for building lots which have been well improved, many fine residences being erected thereon. The past few years a part of the buildings have been occupied by the Valley Falls Mills, as a weav- ing department of the home mills. In 1889, 340 looms were thus operated on cotton print goods, giving employment to 60 operatives. George Smith was the Woonsocket superintendent.
The Globe Mills .- On the first of June, 1827, James Arnold sold six acres of land, on the Smithfield side, near the " falls," and one-fourth the water power from that point, for $2,000. The purchasers were Thomas Arnold, Thomas A. Paine and Marvel Shove, who constituted the first Globe Company. They built a cotton mill, 36 by 72 feet, three stories high and attic, in which were 2,000 spindles and 50 looms, worked on cotton cloth and warps. A corn mill, storehouse and several dwellings, most of them being of stone, were also built. Up to this time the locality had only a small saw mill and a few houses. In 1829 this Globe Company failed, and Samuel Shove became the owner of the property. He erected a machine shop and a dwelling, but, in 1834, he was also forced to assign and the property passed to Thomas Sprague & Sons. One of these sons, Edward, became the sole owner in 1846. Eight years later he deeded that property to B. R. Vaughan and George C. Ballou, and in 1864 the latter became the sole owner.
Under the direction of George C. Ballou the Globe property was improved until it was one of the finest in the state. In 1867 he erected steam saw and planing mills opposite the cotton mill, occupying a four story building. In 1872 he began the present fine Globe Mill, which was completed August 4th, 1873, when George C. Ballou in per- son fed the first cotton upon the moving apron of the lapper in this mill. The walls of this building are of stone, five stories high, and covered with mastic. The main mill is 72 by 308 feet, with an ell 52 by 146 feet, making the entire length of the mill 454 feet. The rooms are high and well lighted, there being in all 560 windows. In the ell of the building an immense Corliss steam engine was placed, which became the motor. These mills were now operated in connection with the Ballou Mill, on the Cumberland side, by the Ballou Manu- facturing Company, of which George C. Ballou was the president, and
307
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
Stephen Clark superintendent, and about 1,000 operatives were em- ployed in all the industries.
In 1874 a large stone warehouse for the storage of cotton was erected, and the property was steadily improved till the death of George C. Ballou, March 25th, 1876. Spencer Mowry was appointed administrator of the estate. In April following the Ballou Manufac- turing Company failed, and a great depression ensued, hundreds of employees being out of work all the season. But October 25th, 1876, the Globe estate was purchased by the Social Manufacturing Com- pany, and the mills were soon thereafter again put in operation. At the time of the purchase, for $363,000, there were in the new mill 35,392 spindles, and 8,586 in the old. The latter building was re- moved in 1877, and since being owned by the Social Company, the new mill has had new machinery supplied. In 1889 there were 41,040 spindles, 933 looms and 500 operatives. The aggregate power was 1,000 horse, 750 being supplied by steam, and 250 by the three water wheels connected with the machinery. When the Social Company took possession of this property, W. E. Parker became the superin- tendent. Since March, 1887, Charles E. Thomas has served in that capacity, and these mills are again enjoying their old-time prosperity.
The Social Manufacturing Company is the oldest and the most ex- tensive corporation in the city. Encouraged by the success of Samuel Slater, as a cotton manufacturer, a company was formed at Woon- socket, October 24th, 1810, to engage in the operation of mills at this point. The associating members were Ariel, Abner and Nathan Bal- lou, Job and Luke Jenckes, Eber Bartlett, Oliver Leland and Joseph Arnold. The latter owned the land on which it was proposed to erect the factory, and was the prime mover in this pioneer enterprise. The articles of agreement which they signed stated that: " Whereas, a con- nection hath this day been formed for the purpose of manufacturing cotton yarn and cloth for our common emolument, to be called the Social Manufacturing Company," etc., which title was thus early selected. Sixteen shares of $1,000 each constituted the capital stock, and each member held two shares. The factory site embraced a little more than four acres, and included the privileges of the water power at that point, on the Mill river. Here a frame building was erected and supplied with carding machinery and 2,000 spindles. On account of its diminutive size it was popularly called the "Pistareen," and as such was known as long as it was used as a mill.
In 1814 Nathan Ballou, Oliver Leland and Eber Bartlett were no longer connected with the company, and in 1822 the Jenckes with- drew to begin their operations on Peter's river. The following year the Social stock was owned by Smith Arnold, nine parts, and Arnold & Earle, seven parts. In 1827 they erected another wooden mill, which from its shape was called the "Castle." Both these old mills
308
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
were subsequently used in the construction of tenements for the com- pany.
In March, 1839, Arnold & Earle began operating the mills as ten- ants, and in 1841 they were sold to Dexter Ballou for $25,000. He enlarged the plant by the purchase of the adjoining lands of James Aldrich, and in 1841 began the erection of a large stone mill. To this additions were made at different periods, a large brick extension being put on the east end in 1872, and on the old part a mansard roof was placed the same year. At the time of its destruction by fire, July 1st, 1874, this was one of the best mills in the country. The conflag- ration was caused by the friction of the main belt in the weaving room in the central part of the building, and the fire spread so rapidly from the time of its occurrence, at 3 P.M., that by 6 P.M. nothing but the blackened walls of the main mill remained. At this time the building had a front of 600 feet, most of it five stories high, and an extension to the rear from the center 245 feet long. All but the west end, which was but two stories high, succumbed to the flames; 50,000 spindles and 1,000 looms were among the machinery destroyed, and the entire loss to the company was $500,000.
The work of rebuilding on the foundations of the old mill was immediately begun, the new structure being erected throughout of brick. The main building is five stories high, 72 by 451 feet, and has a flat roof. Two towers relieve its front, on Social street, where the entire length of the building is 601 feet. On the north is a wing, four stories high, 72 by 202 feet. The greater part of the mill was com- pleted the year of the fire, but since that time further improvements have been made, among the latest being a machine shop in 1889, which is 40 by 100 feet.
The equipments of this establishment are of the best modern make, for the manufacture of fine cotton goods, and, like the one destroyed, the mill is complete in all its departments. In 1889 there were 55,600 spindles, 1,380 looms and 650 operatives. The motive power was steam from a 1,000 horse power George Corliss engine, in addition to 240 horse water power. In 1867 the boarding house opposite the mill was erected and was, at that time, one of the most imposing edifices of its kind in Woonsocket. It is 33 by 93 feet, with an ell 30 by 33, and is three stories high, exclusive of the basement. A part of this building was set aside as a hospital.
In 1884 the new Social office, which had been building two years, was completed and has remained the finest in the state. It was planned and built under the personal direction of the superintendent of the company, Charles Nourse, and by an ill fatality hastened his death March 1st, 1886. At the hour of 3 A.M. the rear part of the office was discovered to be on fire, and as this contained the private rooms . of Mr. Nourse, he was so active in his efforts to save it that he brought on a paralytic shock, which terminated fatally just as he was leaving
309
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
for his home, and after the fire had been controlled. He was born at Keene, New Hampshire, in 1814, and was a thoroughly skilled mill ·man, clear headed, and possessing a remarkable amount of energy, which he devoted to the extension of the business of the company; and under his direction, from 1854 until his death, its finest improve- ments were made. When he became superintendent the company owned 17,000 spindles, which he increased to 125,000 spindles. He had secured an interest in the company and for a number of years prior to his death had also been its president.
The Nourse Mill, erected and owned by the Social Company, on Clinton street, is a worthy memorial to the enterprise of the officer for whom it was named. The ground for these fine brick buildings was broken April 16th, 1882, and five acres were prepared for their site. In November, 1883, the mill was put in use and has since been successfully operated. The main building is 96 by 474 feet, and has three stories, each of which is 16 feet clear in the center. Light is afforded by 382 double windows. A cotton house is 80 by 97 feet and two stories high. The picker room is 50 by 60 feet. The engine and boiler rooms are 49 by 75 feet and 49 by 59 feet. In the former is a 1,200 horse power George Corliss Tandem engine, which is the only motor. The mill has fine machinery, there being 40,000 spindles and 540 looms. The operatives here number 380.
Although this mill is already so capacious, an addition is projected, 150 by 350 feet, and 22 feet clear in its one story, in which will be placed 15,000 spindles, when the Nourse Mill will be one of the largest and most attractive cotton mills in the state.
Dexter Ballou was the proprietor of the old Social Mills until his death in 1849. Five years later the present Social Manufacturing Company was incorporated, and for many years the officers of the corporation were: Orin A. Ballou, president; Henry Lippitt, treasurer; and Charles Nourse, superintendent. The original capital at the time it was chartered was $150,000, which has been several times increased, being $1,000,000 in 1889. At this time the affairs of the company were managed by Charles H. Merriman, president; Henry Lippitt, treas- urer; Henry Lippitt & Co., agents; William D. Martin, clerk at Provi- dence; George W. Cumnock, superintendent (since June, 1886); and Charles E. Thomas, superintendent of the Globe Mills. The latter have been the property of the Social Company since October, 1876, and have since that time been operated as a part of its manufacturing system.
The Eagle Cotton Mills, on the Blackstone, south of the P. & W. railroad bridge, were established in 1831. That year John W. Buffum leased the site of the Arnold heirs and a mill was built 40 by 60 feet. Another mill was afterward built and, in 1867, the main mill was enlarged to 41 by 198 feet, four stories high, of stone. There were also a weaving room 55 by 72 feet, and an engine room 21 by 43 feet.
310
HISTORY OF PROVIDENCE COUNTY.
In 1888 another weaving room, one story high and 75 by 100 feet, was built and other improvements have been made. The powers are water, 175 horse, and steam, 80 horse. In 1889 the mills were oper- ated on fancy cotton goods, there being 12,464 spindles and 440 looms, and 250 operatives were employed, under the superintendency of George H. Grant, who has had charge since August, 1871.
These mills have had many names, being long called " Buffum's," after the builder. Later they became known as "Law's Mills," in compliment to George Law, the popular manager many years. The Groton Manufacturing Company next owned them, but since May 1st, 1884, the corporate name has been Eagle Mills. Of this firm Charles M. Smith was president, and George M. Smith secretary and treasurer, succeeding J. Y. and A. D. Smith as owners. Previous to these, as owners, from August, 1835, on, were Peter J. Cook and Samuel Shove.
The Clinton Mills, occupying a very fine site on the river below the railroad bridge, date their existence from the spring of 1827. That year Benjamin and Thomas C. Hoppin began the first improvements upon lots which they had purchased of the Lyman estate. November 1st, 1830, they conveyed the property to Edward Carrington, who, three years later, took in John H. Clark as a partner. Subsequently the latter became the sole owner, and in 1845 sold out to George C. Ballou, Orin A. Ballou, Samuel P. Rhodes and Peleg A. Rhodes. In May, 1854, the mills became the property of the Clinton Manufacturing Company and have since been controlled by that cor- poration. In 1889 Robert Knight was the treasurer, B. B. & R. Knight the New York selling agents, and Ariel C. Thomas superintendent. E. R. and Fred. A. Thomas have been former superintendents.
The Clinton Mills are large, substantial stone buildings, the main mill being 50 by 250 feet, and five stories high. A large center tower adds to its appearance. A picker room, 50 feet square, is two stories high, and there is a cotton house 50 by 125 feet. In 1889 there were 22,000 spindles and 512 looms, operated on cotton sheetings. The motors were water, 250 horse power, and steam, 150 horse power; and 360 operatives were employed.
The Hamlet Mills are at the lower water power of the Blackstone, at Woonsocket. This old cotton manufacturing plant of Hamlet was brought into existence by the building of the Blackstone canal, when one of the contractors, General Edward Carrington, of Providence, saw the advantages of this place for factory purposes. In 1825 and 1826 he purchased several tracts of land and began improving them, hav- ing Stephen H. Smith as his resident agent. A fall of 93 feet was se- cured by the dam and long raceway they built, yielding nearly 400 horse power. Spencer Mowry contracted to build the first mill, which contained a few thousand spindles. Substantial tenements were built and a mansion erected to make this a complete factory hamlet, from which arose the name of the works. Stephen H. Smith remained at the
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.