Arnold Print Works
_1.jpg){kind=link}
Why it's listed
Arnold Print Works is a 24-acre brick mill complex on the peninsula where the north and south branches of the Hoosac River meet in North Adams. Construction began in 1872, right after a fire destroyed the earlier plant, with the four-story main mill, and additions continued until about 1903. Most of the 26 surviving buildings are typical late 19th century industrial structures with load-bearing brick walls, segmental-arched windows and corbelled cornices. Separate buildings housed dyeing, drying, bleaching, finishing, color mixing, packing and storage, and covered bridges link the two sides of the river. The firm, founded in 1861 by Harvey Arnold and his brothers, was the city's largest industry from the Civil War into the early 20th century. Its growth and setbacks mirrored the local economy until southern competition and the 1920s shutdowns ended its run. Sprague Electric Company acquired the plant, which remains in industrial use.
Significance in brief: The complex was the largest industry in North Adams from the Civil War to the early 20th century, and its expansion tracks the city's periods of growth and hardship. It retains most of its late 19th century buildings with few exterior alterations, and it is listed under Criteria A and C.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 85003379, listed October 25, 1985. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 87 Marshall St., North Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | October 25, 1985 |
| Reference number | 85003379 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Italianate Industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is light industry; the complex serves as the main manufacturing plant of Sprague Electric Company. |
| Acreage | 24 |
| Coordinates | 42.70178, -73.11607 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 85003379.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q108130163
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.