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Coordinates: 42°25′52″N 71°27′18″W / 42.4310°N 71.4549°W / 42.4310; -71.4549
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[[File:Clock Tower atop Clock Tower Place Maynard.JPG|thumb|Clock tower, erected 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard, son of the founder.]]
{{Short description|Historic building complex in Maynard, Massachusetts}}
[[File:Clock Tower atop Clock Tower Place Maynard.JPG|thumb|Clock tower, erected 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard, son of the founder]]
The '''Assabet Woolen Mill''' was originally a textile factory complex founded by [[Amory Maynard]] in 1847 near the [[Assabet River]] in the northern part of what was then [[Sudbury, Massachusetts]]. The area became the [[Maynard, Massachusetts|Town of Maynard]] in 1871.<ref name="TownHist">{{cite web |url=http://web.maynard.ma.us/history/maynard-family.htm |title=The Maynard Family |date=2000 |website=The Maynard Web, Maynard MA |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=Gutteridge>William H. Gutteridge, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=zCwWAAAAYAAJ A Brief History of the Town of Maynard, Massachusetts]" 1921 - Maynard Mass.</ref> The business went bankrupt in 1898, but reopened in 1899 as part of the [[American Woolen Company]], which expanded it. The mill ceased operation as a woolen mill in 1950. The buildings were later repurposed by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] (DEC) as its corporate headquarters. As of 2015, the facility is host to various small business as "Mill & Main". See [[Maynard, Massachusetts]] for further details regarding the use of the dozen or so mill buildings.
The '''Assabet Woolen Mill''' was originally a textile factory complex founded by [[Amory Maynard]] in 1847 near the [[Assabet River]] in the northern part of what was then [[Sudbury, Massachusetts]]. The area became the [[Maynard, Massachusetts|Town of Maynard]] in 1871.<ref name="TownHist">{{cite web |url=http://web.maynard.ma.us/history/maynard-family.htm |title=The Maynard Family |date=2000 |website=The Maynard Web, Maynard MA |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref><ref name=Gutteridge>William H. Gutteridge, "[https://books.google.com/books?id=zCwWAAAAYAAJ A Brief History of the Town of Maynard, Massachusetts]" 1921 - Maynard Mass.</ref> The business went bankrupt in 1898, but reopened in 1899 as part of the [[American Woolen Company]], which expanded it. The mill ceased operation as a woolen mill in 1950. The buildings were later repurposed by [[Digital Equipment Corporation]] (DEC) as its corporate headquarters. As of 2015, the facility is host to various small business as "Mill & Main". See [[Maynard, Massachusetts]] for further details regarding the use of the dozen or so mill buildings.


==History==
==History==
Starting in the eighteenth century,<ref>January 1992, "Development of the Assabet Mills in 19th Century Maynard," John R. Mullin, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=larp_faculty_pubs</ref> several grist mills and saw mills were constructed along the [[Assabet River]] up- and down-river from the site of the current mill building complex. In 1847 Amory Maynard and William Knight constructed the first buildings of Assabet Woolen Mill on the current site. The mill, located between its mill pond and the Assabet River, produced carpets and later wool cloth used in military uniforms during the American Civil War.<ref name="TownHist" /><ref name=Gutteridge /> The mill complex is also home to the oldest, still-working, hand-wound clock in the country (see image). The clock tower was constructed in 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard (Amory's oldest son) as a gift to the town. The weights that power the E. Howard & Co. tower clock and bell-ringing mechanisms are wound up once a week. The four clock faces have always been illuminated by electric lights.<ref name=MarkHHM>{{cite book |last=Mark |first=David A. |title =Hidden History of Maynard |publisher =The History Press |date =2014 |isbn =1626195412}}</ref>
Starting in the eighteenth century,<ref name="Mullen">January 1992, "Development of the Assabet Mills in 19th Century Maynard," John R. Mullin, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=larp_faculty_pubs</ref> several grist mills and saw mills were constructed along the [[Assabet River]] up- and down-river from the site of the current mill building complex. In 1847 Amory Maynard and William Knight constructed the first buildings of Assabet Woolen Mill on the current site. The mill, located between its mill pond and the Assabet River, produced carpets and later wool cloth used in military uniforms during the American Civil War.<ref name="TownHist" /><ref name=Gutteridge /> The mill complex is also home to the oldest, still-working, hand-wound clock in the country (see image). The clock tower was constructed in 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard (Amory's oldest son) as a gift to the town. The weights that power the E. Howard & Co. tower clock and bell-ringing mechanisms are wound up once a week. The four clock faces have always been illuminated by electric lights.<ref name=MarkHHM>{{cite book |last=Mark |first=David A. |title =Hidden History of Maynard |publisher =The History Press |date =2014 |isbn =978-1626195417}}</ref>


After bankruptcy in 1898, it was purchased by [[American Woolen Company]] which modernized and expanded the facility. Textile production ended in 1950, and the complex stood empty. In 1953, several Worcester businessmen formed Maynard Industries, Inc., which purchased the property and rented space to business and industrial tenants.<ref name="MillHist">{{cite web |url=http://web.maynard.ma.us/history/mill-history.htm |title=A History of the Mill |date=2000 |website=The Maynard Web, Maynard MA |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> In 1957 the newly created Digital Equipment Corporation (Digital) rented about 9,000 square feet of space in the mill complex. Digital expanded its space over time, until in 1974 it purchased the entire 1.1 million square foot complex. Maynard became known as the "Mini Computer Capital of the World." Digital remained headquartered in Maynard until 1998, but it had shuttered operations in the mill buildings in 1993.<ref>Earls, Alan R. (2004). ''Digital Equipment Corporation''. Mount Pleasant, SC: Arcadia Publishing. {{ISBN|978-0-7385-3587-6}}</ref> Wellesley Management purchased the property in 1998 and rented space to various business under the operating name Clock Tower Place.<ref name="MillHist" /> In 2015 "Mill & Main" acquired the mill complex and currently leases space to office and light industry businesses.{{cn|date=December 2019}}
After bankruptcy in 1898, it was purchased by [[American Woolen Company]] which modernized and expanded the facility.<ref name="Mullen"/> Textile production ended in 1950, and the complex stood empty.<ref name="Mullen"/> In 1953, several Worcester businessmen formed Maynard Industries, Inc., which purchased the property and rented space to business and industrial tenants.<ref name="MillHist">{{cite web |url=http://web.maynard.ma.us/history/mill-history.htm |title=A History of the Mill |date=2000 |website=The Maynard Web, Maynard MA |access-date=10 January 2019}}</ref> In 1957 the newly created Digital Equipment Corporation (Digital) rented 8,500 square feet of space in the mill complex.<ref name="Earls">{{cite book |last=Earls |first=Alan R. |date=2004 |title=Digital Equipment Corporation |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_aNkZ8wS4U4C |location=Charleston, NC |publisher=Arcadia |page=9 |isbn=9780738535876}}</ref> Digital expanded its space over time, until in 1974 it purchased the entire 1.1 million square foot complex. Maynard became known as the "Minicomputer Capital of the World". Digital remained headquartered in Maynard until 1998, but it had shuttered operations in the mill buildings in 1993.<ref name="Earls" /> Wellesley Management purchased the property in 1998 and rented space to various business under the operating name Clock Tower Place.<ref name="MillHist" /> In 2015 "Mill & Main" acquired the mill complex and currently leases space to office and light industry businesses. New owners completed interior and exterior capital improvements at the eight-building campus in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About {{!}} Mill & Main {{!}} Creative Maynard, MA |url=https://www.millandmain-lpc.com/property-overview |access-date=2023-06-08 |website=Mill & Main |language=en}}</ref>


<gallery>
<gallery>
Amory Maynard mill owner and founder of Maynard, Massachusetts, UA.jpg|Amory Maynard mill co-founder and owner of Assabet Woolen Mill
File:Amory Maynard mill owner and founder of Maynard, Massachusetts, UA.jpg|Amory Maynard mill co-founder and owner of Assabet Woolen Mill
Assabet Mills and pond in Maynard, Massachusetts.jpg|Repurposed mill buildings and mill pond in Maynard, Massachusetts
File:Assabet Mills and pond in Maynard, Massachusetts.jpg|Repurposed mill buildings and mill pond
Assabet Woolen Mill - Maynard, Massachusetts - DSC04916.jpg|Assabet Woolen Mill, clocktower and Building 7, Maynard, Massachusetts
File:Assabet Woolen Mill - Maynard, Massachusetts - DSC04916.jpg|Assabet Woolen Mill, clock tower and Building 7
File:PXL 20240327 192524087.jpg|View of building 5
File:PXL 20240320 160652577.jpg|Stairwell fire door
File:PXL 20240326 183804601.jpg|The Kenneth H Olsen Conference Center
File:PXL 20240326 184121774.jpg|Preserved 19th century electrical controls
File:PXL 20240207 161440069.jpg|Building 2 hallway
File:PXL 20240207 161448901.jpg|The clock tower of building 7
</gallery>
</gallery>


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{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
== Further reading ==
== Further reading ==
* Boothroyd, Paul; Halprin, Lewis. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SQPwf6RX2WUC&printsec=frontcover ''Assabet Mills: Maynard, Massachusetts'']. Charleston, South Carolina : Arcadia Publishing, 1999. {{ISBN|9780738502625}}
* Boothroyd, Paul; Halprin, Lewis. [https://books.google.com/books?id=SQPwf6RX2WUC ''Assabet Mills: Maynard, Massachusetts'']. Charleston, South Carolina : Arcadia Publishing, 1999. {{ISBN|9780738502625}}
* Mullin, John R. [http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=larp_faculty_pubs "Development of the Assabet Mills in 19th Century Maynard"], Faculty Publication Series, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1992.
* Mullin, John R. [http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=larp_faculty_pubs "Development of the Assabet Mills in 19th Century Maynard"], Faculty Publication Series, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 1992.
==External links==
==External links==
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[[Category:Woollen mills]]
[[Category:Woollen mills]]
[[Category:Digital Equipment Corporation]]
[[Category:Digital Equipment Corporation]]
[[Category:Manufacturing buildings and structures]]
[[Category:Industrial buildings completed in 1847]]

Latest revision as of 04:16, 28 March 2024

Clock tower, erected 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard, son of the founder

The Assabet Woolen Mill was originally a textile factory complex founded by Amory Maynard in 1847 near the Assabet River in the northern part of what was then Sudbury, Massachusetts. The area became the Town of Maynard in 1871.[1][2] The business went bankrupt in 1898, but reopened in 1899 as part of the American Woolen Company, which expanded it. The mill ceased operation as a woolen mill in 1950. The buildings were later repurposed by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) as its corporate headquarters. As of 2015, the facility is host to various small business as "Mill & Main". See Maynard, Massachusetts for further details regarding the use of the dozen or so mill buildings.

History

[edit]

Starting in the eighteenth century,[3] several grist mills and saw mills were constructed along the Assabet River up- and down-river from the site of the current mill building complex. In 1847 Amory Maynard and William Knight constructed the first buildings of Assabet Woolen Mill on the current site. The mill, located between its mill pond and the Assabet River, produced carpets and later wool cloth used in military uniforms during the American Civil War.[1][2] The mill complex is also home to the oldest, still-working, hand-wound clock in the country (see image). The clock tower was constructed in 1892 by Lorenzo Maynard (Amory's oldest son) as a gift to the town. The weights that power the E. Howard & Co. tower clock and bell-ringing mechanisms are wound up once a week. The four clock faces have always been illuminated by electric lights.[4]

After bankruptcy in 1898, it was purchased by American Woolen Company which modernized and expanded the facility.[3] Textile production ended in 1950, and the complex stood empty.[3] In 1953, several Worcester businessmen formed Maynard Industries, Inc., which purchased the property and rented space to business and industrial tenants.[5] In 1957 the newly created Digital Equipment Corporation (Digital) rented 8,500 square feet of space in the mill complex.[6] Digital expanded its space over time, until in 1974 it purchased the entire 1.1 million square foot complex. Maynard became known as the "Minicomputer Capital of the World". Digital remained headquartered in Maynard until 1998, but it had shuttered operations in the mill buildings in 1993.[6] Wellesley Management purchased the property in 1998 and rented space to various business under the operating name Clock Tower Place.[5] In 2015 "Mill & Main" acquired the mill complex and currently leases space to office and light industry businesses. New owners completed interior and exterior capital improvements at the eight-building campus in 2017.[7]

  • Amory Maynard mill co-founder and owner of Assabet Woolen Mill
    Amory Maynard mill co-founder and owner of Assabet Woolen Mill
  • Repurposed mill buildings and mill pond
    Repurposed mill buildings and mill pond
  • Assabet Woolen Mill, clock tower and Building 7
    Assabet Woolen Mill, clock tower and Building 7
  • View of building 5
    View of building 5
  • Stairwell fire door
    Stairwell fire door
  • The Kenneth H Olsen Conference Center
    The Kenneth H Olsen Conference Center
  • Preserved 19th century electrical controls
    Preserved 19th century electrical controls
  • Building 2 hallway
    Building 2 hallway
  • The clock tower of building 7
    The clock tower of building 7

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "The Maynard Family". The Maynard Web, Maynard MA. 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  2. ^ a b William H. Gutteridge, "A Brief History of the Town of Maynard, Massachusetts" 1921 - Maynard Mass.
  3. ^ a b c January 1992, "Development of the Assabet Mills in 19th Century Maynard," John R. Mullin, University of Massachusetts - Amherst, Landscape Architecture & Regional Planning Faculty Publication Series http://scholarworks.umass.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1039&context=larp_faculty_pubs
  4. ^ Mark, David A. (2014). Hidden History of Maynard. The History Press. ISBN 978-1626195417.
  5. ^ a b "A History of the Mill". The Maynard Web, Maynard MA. 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  6. ^ a b Earls, Alan R. (2004). Digital Equipment Corporation. Charleston, NC: Arcadia. p. 9. ISBN 9780738535876.
  7. ^ "About | Mill & Main | Creative Maynard, MA". Mill & Main. Retrieved 2023-06-08.

Further reading

[edit]
[edit]

42°25′52″N 71°27′18″W / 42.4310°N 71.4549°W / 42.4310; -71.4549

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