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Union Mills (Fall River, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Fall River, Massachusetts
Fall River is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, in the United States. It is located about south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and west of New Bedford and south of Taunton. The city's population was 88,857 during the 2010 census, making it the tenth largest city in...
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The Union Mills company was incorporated in 1859, and was the first large steam-powered mill built in the city, having installed Corliss steam engine
Corliss Steam Engine
A Corliss steam engine is a steam engine, fitted with rotary valves and with variable valve timing patented in 1849, invented by and named after the American engineer George Henry Corliss in Providence, Rhode Island....
s. The buildings are constructed from native Fall River granite
Fall River granite
Fall River Granite is a Precambrian bedrock underlying the City of Fall River, Massachusetts and surrounding areas along the eastern shores of Narragansett Bay. It was formed 600 million years ago, as part of the Avalon terrane....
. The company's first president was S. Angier Chace, and David Anthony was the first treasurer. It was the first mill corporation established in the city on the basis of general subscriptions.
In 1865, Mill No. 2 was constructed. In 1876 the original gable roofs of both mills were removed and replaced with flat roofs, thereby adding additional floor space. A third mill was later constructed adjacent to Mill No. 2, but was demolished in the 1960s for the construction of Interstate 195. Production of textiles ceased in 1929.
In 1968 the site was photographed by Jack E. Boucher
Jack E. Boucher
Jack E. Boucher is an American photographer. He began working for the National Park Service in 1958 and continued working there until at least 2006, 48 years later, serving as the Chief Photographer for the Historic American Buildings Survey...
of the Historic American Buildings Survey
Historic American Buildings Survey
The Historic American Buildings Survey , Historic American Engineering Record , and Historic American Landscapes Survey are programs of the National Park Service established for the purpose of documenting historic places. Records consists of measured drawings, archival photographs, and written...
, along with the adjacent Durfee Mills
Durfee Mills
Durfee Mills is an historic textile mill complex located at 359-479 Pleasant Street in Fall River, Massachusetts.Mill No. 1 was built in 1866 for the manufacture of cotton cloth. The company was named in honor of Major Bradford Durfee. The mill complex is the largest, and most complete in the city....
, as part of the New England Textile Mill Survey II, led by Robert M. Vogel of the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
. The site was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1983.
Over the years, the Union Mills have been occupied by numerous small businesses, including Nate Lions Appliance Warehouse for many years before its move to the nearby Durfee Mills
Durfee Mills
Durfee Mills is an historic textile mill complex located at 359-479 Pleasant Street in Fall River, Massachusetts.Mill No. 1 was built in 1866 for the manufacture of cotton cloth. The company was named in honor of Major Bradford Durfee. The mill complex is the largest, and most complete in the city....
. Both mills have been completely restored and are now the location of Prima CARE Medical Center.