Fall River Manufactory

Fall River Manufactory

Company type	Manufacturing company
Industry	Textile manufacturing
Founded	March 1813 (1813-03)
Founder	David Anthony, Dexter Wheeler, Abraham Bowen, and partners
Headquarters	Fall River, Massachusetts
Area served	United States
Products	Cotton yarn, printed cloth, specialized fabrics

The Fall River Manufactory—which later became known as the Fall River Manufacturing Company—holds the distinction of being the inaugural successful cotton mill erected along the Quequechan River in Fall River, Massachusetts (formerly called Troy). Founded in March 1813 with an initial investment of $40,000 by David Anthony, Dexter Wheeler, Abraham Bowen, and their partners, a significant portion of the capital was sourced from neighboring communities. In that same month, the Troy Cotton & Woolen Manufactory was also established nearby and commenced operations in 1814. Throughout the 1820s, these pioneering mills catalyzed the development of numerous additional textile factories along the Quequechan River, ultimately establishing Fall River as a prominent textile manufacturing hub in the United States by mid-century.

History

The establishment of the company was largely motivated by shortages caused by the War of 1812 and the consequent increase in cotton goods prices. David Anthony, who had gained experience working under Samuel Slater in Pawtucket and maintained connections with Dexter Wheeler—a proficient machine builder and the company’s inaugural president—oversaw its operations. The first mill, completed in October 1813 and colloquially referred to as the "yellow mill," spanned 60 by 40 feet over three floors and contained approximately 1,500 spindles. Much of its machinery was provided by Wheeler.

Following the conclusion of the war in 1814, renewed competition from British imports pressured the market. In response, the company adopted a Blair picking machine that year, which reduced cotton processing expenses by 75%. Initially focused on producing cotton yarn for local weavers, powered looms were introduced by 1817 and expanded to 30 units by 1820.

Incorporated in 1820 with a capital of $150,000, the firm constructed the Nankeen Mill in 1827 to manufacture specialized fabrics. Both original mills were replaced in 1839 with a larger facility known as the "White Mill." By 1850, operations had grown to include 9,240 spindles and 209 looms staffed by roughly 143 workers, yielding over 1.7 million yards of printed cloth annually.

After a fire destroyed the second mill in 1868, a third mill was inaugurated in 1869 featuring increased capacity—with 640 looms and 27,080 spindles—powered by water turbines supplemented by a Corliss steam engine. This plant underwent further expansion in 1891 to accommodate 41,000 spindles. By 1893, the company expanded its holdings through acquisition of neighboring Quequechan Mills.

In 1905, ownership of Fall River Manufacturing’s property transferred to Pocasset Manufacturing Company as Mill No. 5; meanwhile, Quequechan Mills were leased to smaller operators. Following Pocasset Mills’ closure and a significant fire in 1928, various small businesses occupied the site until Massachusetts acquired it for construction of Interstate 195. The historic mill succumbed to fire in August 1961; currently, this location forms part of the interchange between I-195 and Route 79.

See also

• American Printing Company
• List of mills in Fall River, Massachusetts
• Metacomet Mill