Old Woolen Mill

Old Woolen Mills

The Lowell Woolen Mills building was built after the Civil War in 1867 by C. A. Clark. It was located just to the south of Forest Mills on the east bank of Flat River. A City parking lot is there today. The mill was powered by water. Waterpower was delivered through a race (channel) which diverted river water under Main Street to the factory. The mill was able to wash, pick, card, spin, dye and weave wool in a fraction of the time it took to do it by hand. Many hundreds of sheep were raised by farmers in this area. The wool was sheared once a year in the spring. The fleece could then be processed by hand at home or sold to the woolen mill.

The business was sold to Morris R. Blodgett in 1868, and then to W. W. Hatch who operated the flour mill next door. In 1875, Hatch sold it to the Clark Brothers who were the sons of the original owner and builder. They successfully made high quality woolen cloths such as cassimers, satinets, check flannels, dress flannels, sheeting and yarns for 25 years. They also bought and sold pelts and furs. In 1899, the woolen mill machinery was sold and moved to Alma for a mill there. The city purchased the property in 1901 for a park and other purposes. In 1943, according to the map shown, King Milling was using the building as a warehouse. It was demolished in 1965 with Forest Mills for the city parking lot.

Images:

Lowell Woolen Mills is on the right with the train track between it and King Milling Co. The Cutter Factory is showing in the center.
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Hand drawn map showing King Milling Company holdings, 1943. Old Woolen mill is indicated by the arrow. The old Cutter Factory is labeled Peckham Warehouse. The Forest Mill is under the woolen mill building.