National Register of Historic Places

Mechanics Mill

Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Listed
February 16, 1983
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
83000693

About this property

Mechanics Mill is a historic cotton textile mill located at 1082 Davol Street in Fall River, Massachusetts. Built in 1868, the mill represents an important example of Second Empire industrial architecture and marks a significant shift in the city's corporate development patterns. The mill was constructed in the Italianate style in 1868 from red brick. The mill's octagonal tower originally had a highly decorative top, which has been removed. The mill office was once located in front of the mill along Davol Street, but has also been removed. The mill was constructed north of the city center, along the waterfront, with a tidewater dock to receive coal shipments to feed its boilers. Water for the steam engines was obtained from a well shaft dug nearby. The Mechanics Mill was also one of the first in the city to have a fire sprinkler protection system. The Mechanics Mill company was incorporated on May 25, 1868, by a special charter granted by the Massachusetts Legislature. Thomas J. Borden served as the first president, and D.H. Dyer was treasurer. Along with Merchants Mill, established in 1867, the Mechanics Mill was formed by a large number of stockholders with limited means, marking a new trend in the city's corporate development. There were initially 328 stockholders, compared to a dozen or so with other mills at the time. In 1929, the Mechanics Mill merged with the nearby Weetamoe Mill, but it was soon closed. It was later part of Quaker Fabric Corporation, which closed in 2007. The mill experienced a rebirth in 2012 as Commonwealth Landing, including office space, several small stores and two restaurants, including Jerry Remy's Sports Bar & Grill, owned by Fall River native, former Boston Red Sox second baseman and current NESN sportscaster Jerry Remy. The mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. National Register of Historic Places listings in Fall River, Massachusetts Media related to Mechanics Mill at Wikimedia Commons

Location

1082 Dawol St.
Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts
41.71895, -71.15557

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

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.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Mechanics Mill

This page lists Mechanics Mill. 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:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Mechanics Mill report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Read, Nathan, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Lindsey, William, House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Qheguechan Club
Industrial
0.2 mi
Earle, John M., House
Industrial
0.2 mi
Al Mac's Diner-Restaurant
Industrial
0.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Mechanics Mill listed on the National Register?

Mechanics Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 16, 1983.

What type of historic resource is Mechanics Mill?

Mechanics Mill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Mechanics Mill?

The period of significance for Mechanics Mill is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Mechanics 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 Mechanics Mill will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Bristol County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Bristol County.

Explore BristolCounty ›

More historic places in Massachusetts

Browse all historic places in Massachusetts.

View Massachusettshistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Massachusetts history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Massachusettshistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Mechanics Mill will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report