American Net and Twine Company Factory
Why it's listed
Built in 1875 at 155 Second Street in Cambridge, this three-story brick factory was constructed expressly for the American Net & Twine Company, a rapidly expanding firm. The company had become the first American manufacturer of cotton twine and netting in 1844, when most fish nets were handmade hemp imports from England. The mill-construction building has wide segmental arched windows set within segmental arched arcades and a jerkinhead gable roof pierced by broad gabled dormers. A central projecting pedimented tower on the south facade rises four stories and has segmental arched openings set within flat arched arcades. Between 1886 and 1916, two additions to the west and south gave the complex an L shape. These additions continue the fenestration and detailing of the original building, with rough-cut granite sills and a flat roof. The building has remained in industrial use, and its listing recognizes both its architecture and its link to early American twine and netting manufacture.
Significance in brief: The American Net & Twine Company became the first American firm, in 1844, to manufacture cotton twine and netting, at a time when most fish nets were handmade hemp imports from England. The 1875 factory was built expressly for the rapidly expanding firm. It is also a good example of mill construction with distinctive arched detailing.
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 82001906, listed April 1, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 155 2nd St., Cambridge |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | April 1, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001906 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Mill Construction |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Present use is industrial; the form lists the building as unaltered and not moved, with later additions made between 1886 and 1916. |
| Acreage | 1.1 |
| Coordinates | 42.36686, -71.07954 (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 82001906.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4744581
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.