ATCO
OVERVIEWS |
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Willimantic Linen
Company
The Willimantic Linen Company was formed in
1854 and built its Mill One in 1857. .
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Photo courtesy of Jamie Eves |
Photo courtesy of Jamie Eves
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Photo courtesy of
Jamie Eves |
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Photo courtesy of
Jamie Eves |
Threadmill Square |
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Mill
One |
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In 1898, the
Willimantic Linen Company became part of the
American Thread Company
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This was the Jillson Mill. When taken over
by the Willimantic Linen Company this
building was used as a spool shop. The spool
making was later transferred to a factory in
Willimantic, Maine.
In 1898, the Willimantic Linen Company
became part of the American Thread Company
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According to
Jamie Eves, "(This)
shows the old boiler room on the west end of
Mill No. 1. Eventually, that boiler room
would be replaced by a central power plant
and a complex series of drive shafts
connecting the different buildings. The old
boiler room would be converted to additional
factory floor space.
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Mill
Two
Read Tom Beardsley's Story of Mill No. 2 |
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Mill NumberTwo in
1891The
Willimantic Linen Company's Mill Two in
1891, pictured before the erection of Mills
Five (1899) and Six (1907). The scene
resembles the view today, although a park has
replaced the small gauge railroad track
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Mill No.2, which
has visually dominated the mill complex
since 1864, was the site of early
experimentation with electric lighting,
leading to the radically different design of
Mill No. 4
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Mill
Number TwoMill
Number Two, pictured from the east in 1908.
Note the large elm trees, which once
dominated the city's streets. |
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Mill 2
and Dam
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ccccc
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Mill
Number TwoThis
1864 is a woodcut of the Willimantic Linen
Company's Mill Number Two. |
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Mill No. 2 and Storehouse
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MILL
THREE |
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Mill Number 3
ATCO's
Mill Number 3 on lower Main Street was a
wooden structure. As a matter of interest,
in 1917, the Alert Hose Company tested its
brand new motorized pumper at Mill Number 3
in front of a large crowd. It was a
resounding success
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Mill
Four
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Completed in 1889, Mill Number 4 was a huge
brick factory, 168 feet wide by 840 feet
long, that was, at that time, the largest
cotton mill in the world. |
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Mill
Five
Read Toms Mill 5
story - part 1
Read Toms Mill 5
story - part 2 |
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Mill
Six
Read
Tom and Pete's Mill Six story |
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Mill
Number Six
American Thread's Mill Number Six, which was
demolished in 1998, dominates Thread Mill
square in this 1907 view. Note the workers
leaving at the end of the shift, the trolley
tracks, the dirt road, and the horse drawn
traffic. Closer inspection reveal
construction work just being completed on
Mill Number Six.
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Inside
the Mills |
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Mill No. 4
Reeling Dept.
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Mill No.
4
Roving Dept.
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Mill No.
4
Inspection Room
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Mill No. 4
Ring Twisting Dept.
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Mill Number 6
Taken one hour before the ball that
was part of the mill's dedication.
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OUTBUILDINGS |
Spool
Shop
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Spool
Shop
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Spool
Shop
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Blacksmith Shop
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Office
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Office
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Dyehouse
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Stables
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Water
Views |
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Mill No.
4
Bridge to Mill No. 4
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Early View from Willimantic River
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Street
Views |
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Miscellaneous |
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ATCO's Mill Number
Six Championship Baseball TeamATCO
Mill #6 Championship Baseball Team in 1913.
We think the man in the center, holding the
trophy, is Mr. Follett, the manager. “Buddy”
Follett is the mascot.
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The Helen BWillimantic
Company officials proudly pose for the
camera in 1888 with their brand new steam
locomotive, the Helen B., named in honor of
Eugene Boss’ daughter. Boss was the
long-serving agent of the Company. The
engine transported material around the site
on a narrow-gauge railroad.
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Willimantic Linen
Company - 1876 Centennial ExpositionThis
engraving shows the Willimantic Linen
Company’s exhibit of a winding machine and
sewing equipment at the 1876 Centennial
Exhibition . In 1877 the exhibit went to St.
Louis where it won honors not only for the
machinery which had been developed but also
for the quality of the thread which was
produced.
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The crossing
between Mill One and Mill Six welcomed
visitors and travellers into Willimantic
between 1916 and 1998. |
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