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Powering the Mill
At first, the traditional wooden waterwheel was the prime mover in the Mill. Power was transmitted to the machines in different parts of the mill buildings by an intricate series of shafts and belts.
Dynamo Control Room Photo
With the installation of a dynamo in the new power plant, electricity became available and on September 1, 1902, a contract was made between the American Woolen Company and the Town of Maynard for lighting the streets of the town. Thus, the old…
Woolen Manufacturing Process Photos
Carding step 1.
The wool fibers are straightened and smoothed as they go through one cad cylinder after another. The photo 318.a shows a section of a back winder.
Carding step 2.
After carding, the wide, thin web of wool fiber into strips.…
The wool fibers are straightened and smoothed as they go through one cad cylinder after another. The photo 318.a shows a section of a back winder.
Carding step 2.
After carding, the wide, thin web of wool fiber into strips.…
Dry Finishing Room
Fabrics are steamed, brushed, sheared and pressed during this series of operations. The nap is raised by brushes and then cut to a uniform height by the huge shear blade, which operates like a stationary lawn mower as the fabric is fed under it.…
New Mill Equipment
In 1862,the mills became the Assabet Manufacturing Company. The small wooden buildings were replaced by brick buildings of enlarged capacity. New machinery was installed, and the manufacture of carpets changed to the manufacture of blankets, flannels…
Wool Sorters
Wool sorters seperate the the newly arrived wool and sort the fibers according to type, grade and length.
Photo of Mill Overseers - ca 1930
Left to right: Frank Grieve, A. Carlton, W. Spatt, W. Bain,______, George Stewart.
Employees of the American Woolen Company - 1935
Photos of individual Woolen Company Employees 1935.
2013.241- 244
(top left)G. Stuart, mill chemist (top right) H.C. Johnson. production manager. (bottom left) Frank Brayden, boss fuller
(bottom right) Roy Nelson,…
2013.241- 244
(top left)G. Stuart, mill chemist (top right) H.C. Johnson. production manager. (bottom left) Frank Brayden, boss fuller
(bottom right) Roy Nelson,…
Dry Finishing Employees
Employees of the dry finishing department 1905.
Front Row:
Second from left Albert C. Fourth from left P. Carbone
Front Row:
Second from left Albert C. Fourth from left P. Carbone
Assabet Mill Employees - ca 1900
Photo of young boys working at blending. Scored wool and other fibers are blended before carding. As of 1891, one eighth of the workers were less than 16 years old and made 5.5 cents per hour.
Photo of a team of pipe fitters who are part of the…
Photo of a team of pipe fitters who are part of the…
Drawing In Room Employees Assabet Mills 1905 Photo
Drawing In Room Employees:
Front Row:
Frank Riley, John Manning
Second Row:
Unknown
Third Row:
Maude Turnbull,____,___,___,Albert Batley, Mame McCarthy, Clara Binks,___,____
Back Row:
_____, Jim Sheridan,_____,John Sheridan, Fred…
Front Row:
Frank Riley, John Manning
Second Row:
Unknown
Third Row:
Maude Turnbull,____,___,___,Albert Batley, Mame McCarthy, Clara Binks,___,____
Back Row:
_____, Jim Sheridan,_____,John Sheridan, Fred…
Wool Price Book - 1929
A book listing the different types of wool with related prices per roll as noted in 1929.
Sewing Room Employees - 1904
American Woolen Company
Sewing Room Employees.
Starting with first row.
Margaret Keegan, Nellie McHan, Mame Kelly, Lizzie McHass, Cecelia O'Toole, Meg Scully, Net Binns?, Kate Sweeney, Sadie McGarrey, Frank Moynihan, Connie Desmond, Mary Callahan, Nellie Crotty,…
Starting with first row.
Margaret Keegan, Nellie McHan, Mame Kelly, Lizzie McHass, Cecelia O'Toole, Meg Scully, Net Binns?, Kate Sweeney, Sadie McGarrey, Frank Moynihan, Connie Desmond, Mary Callahan, Nellie Crotty,…
Dry Finishing Office Employees
Photo of Office Employees Dry Finishing Department.
Left to Right
Thomas Quirk, ____,_____,____, Tom Deane
Left to Right
Thomas Quirk, ____,_____,____, Tom Deane
Assabet Mills - ca 1930
American Woolen Company
Series of external views of the mill c.1930. One photo shows unloading of wool into the building.
Assabet Mills Photos - 1931
Series of external views of the mill buildings taken July 18, 1931and November 22,1931. Some photos indicate year the building was added.
Flood of March 1936 - Mill Views
The winter of 1936's large snowfall amounts was followed by heavy spring rains resulting in the worst flooding since 1850. In one day after 6 inches of rainfall the water was within a foot of it's bank by the mill buildings. Photo of mill number 6.
Boiler Room Employees - 1905
Coal was the main source of power for the mill complex in the early 1900s. The coal was brought to the mill by train and was unloaded and shoveled into the boilers by these workers.
Dressing and Slasher Room Assabet Mills Employees - 1905
Taken at the coal pile on Walnut Street before the installation of oil. The men in the picture are the second hands and employees of both departments which were under one head.