Whittall Mills

Whittall Mills is a district of brick factory buildings in South Worcester, Massachusetts, beside the Middle River. Most of the three- and four-storey mills date from 1870 to 1910, with later additions to about 1930. The site began as a mill privilege and later housed the Crompton Carpet Company's Packachoag Mill, built in 1870-1872. Crompton and Horace Wyman invented their own power loom for Brussels carpets. After a fire in 1884 and changes of ownership, English immigrant Matthew J. Whittall expanded the property, adding mills, a dye house, power houses, wool storage and main offices, many marked with his name on plaques. Stephen Earle likely designed many of the buildings. By World War I the complex held more than 500,000 square feet of floor space, 350 looms and 1,500 workers, and it supplied carpets to federal buildings and the White House. As South Worcester's largest employer, it encouraged nearby housing growth. Carpet production continued until the company was sold in 1950.