Globe Yarn Mills
Why it's listed
Globe Yarn Mills is a brick textile complex on Globe Street in Fall River's Globe Village. The company was incorporated in 1881 to make yarn and thread, and the East Mill went up that year, measuring 315 by 75 feet with three stories over a basement and a capacity of 32,000 spindles. A West Mill followed in 1886, with wall buttresses and a three-story ell added in 1890. It was powered by the first compound condensing steam engine used in Fall River, a type that needed only about two-thirds of the steam of a single-cylinder engine. The buildings show typical 1880s mill features: brick relieving arches, arched sash windows, bracketed cornices and low-pitched roofs. A boiler house, engine room and a shortened brick chimney also remain. The first mill helped spur growth of the surrounding village, and the complex illustrates how the city's textile industry expanded in the late nineteenth century. Today one mill serves as an outlet store and the other houses light industry.
Significance in brief: The complex is presented as representative of late 19th century brick mill construction and as an illustration of the expansion of Fall River's textile industry. The first mill spurred development of the Globe Village area, and the 1886 mill used the first compound condensing steam engine in Fall River. It is cited 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 83000671, listed February 16, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Globe St., Fall River |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000671 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1881-1886 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th century (1880s) brick mill design |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | One mill (#1) is used as a mill outlet by a dress company and the other houses light industry; the chimney is now only 100 feet tall. |
| Acreage | 5.1 |
| Coordinates | 41.68891, -71.17278 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 83000671.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5571024
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.