Mill series 13 of 14 - read GC8Y7N5 1st
BLACKINTON MILL
In1822 Rufus Wells, Sanford Blackinton, and Joseph White built a small two story factory that stood near your current spot. The mill cost roughly eight hundred dollars and was fitted with 2 pieces of second hand machinery from an old woolen mill in Williamstown with the weaving done by hand looms. A=251 The mill manufactured satinets and pantaloon's worth 75 cents a yard producing fifty yards per day ($37/day).
In 1825 the company bought a woolen mill near theirs for $6000 worth of finished cloth with the condition the seller, Mr Foote, supply the wool. In 1842 the old Foote mill burned with a loss of $10,000 more than the insurance coverage. A new stone mill was built with a waterwheel and shaft for a cost of about $15,000
When the business formed in 1822 there were only 2 houses in the “village" but the mill and surrounding area grew quickly to include its own store, post office, church, school, jail, and library. The company was at the time the biggest manufacturer of wool in western Massachusetts.
By the 1850s, S. Blackinton & Co. was producing 300,000lbs of wool and 450,000 yards of cloth a year. The workers were mostly men but many women and children were also employed as assistants
When the Civil war broke out business boomed. The government granted Blackinton contracts to produce blue wool cloth for the Union Army. . In 1862 a railroad depot was opened in Blackinton, increasing the flow of materials in and out. Immigrants soon began to come to the area, most of them being Welsh heritage. The workers were given housing in two-family tenement buildings.
Another large addition was made in 1872 and machinery purchased from England effectively doubling the size it was at the beginning of the civil war. After the war the mill continued to produce high quality cashmeres and worsteds ( woolen products) but business dwindled and in1901 the company would close. In 1909 under new owners but keeping the same name the business reorganized, made improvements and enlargements. They added a 60'x 235' weave shed, electricity throughout, lighting, and new machinery. Business picked up an output was over 500,000 yards of fancy worsted mens products a year. With around 400 employees payroll was about $12,000 a month but once again in 1950 they went out of business
** the picture shows the mill looking from the South West. Notice how this mill, like many others, had a large resovoir of water. That area was filled and is now houses.
Thanks to the North Adams Historical society for providing information and photos
To solve for this Puzzle:
Final Coords E= 2nd digit on sign on East end of building divided by 2
N 42° 42.A W 073° 10.0E8