Shields Woolen Mill
About this property
Shields Woolen Mill is located along the edge of the Mississippi River in Davenport, Iowa, United States. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1983. The building has been repurposed as commercial and office space called One River Place. Because the Civil War cut off cotton supplies from the southern states, wool increased in popularity in the North. To take advantage of the situation Joseph Shields established Shields Woolen Mills in 1863. By 1870 he employed 52 people and the annual production value of the mill was $36,000, which made it the sixth largest industry in Davenport. Several fires and financial problems caused Shield's problems and he committed suicide in 1878. By 1881 the business was reorganized as the Davenport Woolen Mills. In the 1890s the mill employed 140 people and its product line included clothing, cashmere, flannels, and blankets. It would be the high point of the company, however. As the sheep herds moved further west the production of woolen goods moved with them. The company's financial situation rose and fell and it finally closed in 1914. This two-story industrial building has both shallow side gable and flat roofs. It is constructed in brick with a stone foundation and basement, which is exposed on the south elevation of the building. Segmental arch windows predominate throughout the structure. The middle section with the pedimented entrance is the original section of the building that was completed in 1863. Additions were made to the structure with the last one added in 1868. It is located in an old milling district along the Mississippi River. This is thought to be the oldest structure still standing in Davenport that was designed for steam-operated industrial use.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Questions about this property
When was Shields Woolen Mill listed on the National Register?
Shields Woolen Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 6, 1983.
What type of historic resource is Shields Woolen Mill?
Shields Woolen Mill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Shields Woolen Mill?
The period of significance for Shields Woolen Mill is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Shields Woolen Mill?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Shields Woolen Mill will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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