Gloucester Net and Twine Company
Why it's listed
Built in 1884 at Maplewood Avenue and Grove Street in Gloucester, this former net and twine factory includes a three-story wood-frame main building with a low-pitched roof and a four-story entry tower. Behind it stand a brick power house with a square smokestack and, in the southwest corner, a stylish 1920s brick office wing. The company was one of the city's largest manufacturers, supplying lines, nets and seines to the fishing fleet and shipping them across the United States, to Canada and to Europe. A railroad spur let it operate inland, unlike most net makers near the harbor, and many young women worked its knitting machines. Ownership passed to American Net & Twine in 1919 and to the Linen Thread Co. in 1934, which stayed until 1960. The site has remained in industrial use since. It is notable both for its role in Gloucester's fishing economy and as a well-preserved industrial building among many lost ones.
Significance in brief: The complex is tied to the late 19th and early 20th century growth of Gloucester's fisheries, which created strong demand for nets and lines. It is also one of the city's best-preserved examples of industrial architecture, since most comparable buildings have been lost or heavily altered. Its inland site and railroad spur set it apart from other net makers and supported national and international distribution.
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 96000474, listed April 26, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Maplewood Ave., SE jct. of Maplewood Ave. and Grove St., Gloucester |
|---|---|
| County | Essex County |
| Listed | April 26, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96000474 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1884-1945 |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Italianate |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Has remained in industrial use since the Linen Thread Co. left in 1960; current occupants include a leather goods maker and an awning and sail firm. The ropewalks and sheds were removed around 1960. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Coordinates | 42.62106, -70.66805 (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 96000474.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5572068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.