Montgomery Worsted Mills
Why it's listed
Beside the Wallkill River on Factory Street, this three-story, L-shaped brick mill has produced worsted yarn for generations. A cotton factory was begun on the site around 1813, but production there is doubtful. Englishman Edmund Ackroyd bought the property in 1870, added a three-story brick structure and opened a flour and grist mill in 1873. In 1880 brothers-in-law William Crabtree and Arthur Patchett took over and turned to worsted yarn for knitting and weaving, using ideas brought from England. Their sons and grandsons continued the business until it left the family in 1939. Fire destroyed the building in 1891, and it was rebuilt in 1892, with a brick wing added in 1906. Features include a shallow gabled roof, 12/12 windows, arched brick lintels, a roughly 90-foot brick smokestack, a hydro plant and a water tower. The 1891 turbines and shafting remain. It is the only worsted mill in New York State and the last operating mill on the Wallkill.
Significance in brief: The mill exemplifies late 19th and early 20th century industrial design and construction, and represents the continuity of milling in Montgomery, since earlier mills on the site are gone. It is described as the only worsted mill in New York State and the last mill of any sort still working on the Wallkill River. Original 1891 turbines, shafting and insurance schematics survive, and a family of owners left extensive documentation.
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 80002738, listed November 21, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Factory St., Montgomery |
|---|---|
| County | Orange County |
| Listed | November 21, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002738 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described in the nomination text as still functioning as a worsted mill; the owner's letter says it still spins hand knitting yarns and has hosted school and club tours. |
| Acreage | 21 |
| Coordinates | 41.53145, -74.22247 (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 80002738.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q1694671
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.