Sanford Spinning Co.
Why it's listed
Sanford Spinning is a group of low, large-footprint brick mill buildings in Fall River's Globe Village, close to the Taunton River and the Old Colony Railroad. The first mill, dating from 1887, was built for the Globe Yarn Mill and has two stories with attached engine and boiler houses. In 1892 the Sanford Spinning Company added a three-story mill, a separate dye house and further power buildings. A third two-story mill followed in 1920, and a 140-foot chimney and one-story wooden additions complete the site. Wide bracketed cornices, arched windows and arched six-over-eighteen sash tie the buildings together. The company was organized in 1891 to make colored and fancy yarns and was capitalized at $400,000. It specialized in novelty and hosiery yarns. After a 1899 merger and later ownership changes, the buildings now house light industry. The complex was listed for its association with specialized yarn production and for its architecture.
Significance in brief: The complex represents an important late 19th century secondary textile industry, the production of novelty yarns. It is a handsome, visually unified group of late 19th and early 20th century industrial buildings. The form states it meets Criteria A and C individually.
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 83000714, 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 Mills Ave., Fall River |
|---|---|
| County | Bristol County |
| Listed | February 16, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83000714 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1887-1920 |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and early 20th century brick industrial mill buildings |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Buildings are presently used for light industry. |
| Acreage | 11.5 |
| Coordinates | 41.69288, -71.17860 (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 83000714.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7417655
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.