Women and Children in the Mills

Women and Children in Ninetieth Century New England Mills

“Women and Children in Ninetieth Century New England Mills”

In the mid-19th century, the Draper brothers came to Hopedale, MA where they built and expanded what would become the largest automatic loom maker in the world, and, the dominant force in the town.  The company provided thousands of jobs, workforce housing and more. With abundant water power, similar mills were popping up all over New England including in the Lancastrian towns. Though a change from life on the farm, the hours were very long and the workplaces could be hazardous in many ways.  – CLICK HERE.