Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District
About this property
The Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District encompasses the well preserved "Big Mill" complex of the Hamilton Woolen Company, built in the mid 19th century. Located at the confluence of McKinstry Brook and the Quinebaug River in central Southbridge, Massachusetts, the complex consists of a cluster of mill buildings and a rare collection of 1830s brick mill worker housing units located nearby. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. The site of the Hamilton Company's mill had been used as a mill site since 1750, when the first water privilege was granted to William Plimpton. In 1812 James and Perez Wolcott established a cotton mill on the site, building in 1814 what was at the time the world's largest cotton mill. The Wolcotts continued to expand their business, until a dam they built gave way, irreparably harming their business. Its remains were acquired by Boston investors, who formed the Hamilton Woolen Company in 1831. They rebuilt the dam to a higher level, and in 1836 embarked on a major expansion of the premises. Among the buildings erected in 1836 are the Big Mill, a five-story brick structure that is the dominant feature of the complex. Extensively modified in 1850, the most distinctive feature of this building is an end stairwell which is capped by a tower with a Romanesque belfry. Immediately adjacent to the mill Brick Square was established. This was a cluster of brick housing units arranged around a quadrangle. This area, now bounded by Mill Street, Canal Street, and Brick Row, includes five surviving worker houses. Built in the then-popular Greek Revival style, one of them was later adapted for company offices. The last remaining main mill building is the Dresser Street mill building.
Location
Categories
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.
Everything a full report reveals about Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District
This page lists Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Questions about this property
When was Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District listed on the National Register?
Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 21, 1989.
What type of historic resource is Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District?
Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District?
The period of significance for Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District is recorded as the listed era.
Can I research the history near Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District?
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 Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
More in Worcester County
Historic places, battles, and census history across Worcester County.
Explore WorcesterCounty ›More historic places in Massachusetts
Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.
View Massachusettshistoric sites ›Massachusetts history
Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.
Massachusettshistory ›Research the history near this site
An Aubrey US report for an address near Hamilton Woolen Company Historic District will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.