• Boott Cotton Mills Museum with Trolley

    Lowell

    National Historical Park Massachusetts

There are park alerts in effect.
hide Alerts »

  • Northern Canal Walkway Closed.

    The Northern Canal Walkway will be closed until further notice due to construction and repair work.

Products of the Mills

Next: Lowell's Other Industry
 

Cotton cloth was always Lowell's major product. But from its earliest years, the mills turned out a variety of textile goods. The Middlesex Company, for instance, manufactured woolen cloth. The Lowell Manufacturing Company was a leading producer of carpets. During the Civil War years, the Lawrence Manufacturing Company moved into the production of hosiery.

Lowell's cotton textiles ranged from pattern weaves to printed cloths. The Merrimack Company specialized in calico prints and pioneered in the development of cloth printing technology. Skilled printers were recruited from England in the early years. The head printer hired by the company in 1825 commanded a salary higher than the treasurer's. Other companies specialized in coarse drillings, sheetings, twilled goods, and shirtings, minimizing competition among Lowell textile firms.

Source: Lowell National Historical Park Handbook 140

 
Next: Lowell's Other Industry

Did You Know?

Mile of Mills, Lowell National Historical Park

The Boyden Observatory of Bloemfontein, South Africa owes its existence to Uriah Boyden who left over $200,000 at his death in 1879. Mr. Boyden, an inventor, patented an outward flow turbine. He sold it to the Appleton Mills in Lowell, MA where he worked, home of Lowell National Historical Park.