Expansion American Printing Company (Fall River Iron Works)

printing room, american print works, 1910

fall river profited american civil war , in fine position take advantage of prosperity followed. 1868, had surpassed lowell leading textile city in america on 500,000 total spindles. american print works set open new factory in 1867, when disastrous fire occurred. major setback company, final arrangements insurance in process of being completed when fire happened. however, american print works rebuilt in 1868, bigger , better before.

a few years later during 1871 , 1872, dramatic expansion occurred within city of fall river, when 15 new corporations founded, building 22 new mills throughout city, while of older mills expanded. city s population increased astounding 20,000 people during these 2 years, while overall mill capacity double more 1,000,000 spindles. main product of these mills print cloth, vast majority of which, passed through american print works.

by 1876 city had 1/6 of new england cotton capacity, , one-half of print cloth production. king cotton had arrived. spindle city became known, second in world manchester, england.

indigo blue & white printed cloth, american printing company, company catalog, 1910

however, 1870s trying time textile industry, beginning panic of 1873. american print works failed in 1879, result of uninsured losses suffered in 1867 fire, , reorganized american printing company 1880.

at peak in 1876, iron works employed 600 men. however, few years later in 1880, iron works property divided among shareholders , production of iron ceased after, result of increased competition other companies closer mines.

in 1887, m.c.d. borden, son of col. richard gain control of company s stock, , tore down old buildings of iron works, , began construction of several huge new cloth-producing mills, adjacent american printing company. these new mills known iron works division of apc.

three huge warehouses built along lower portion of anawan street, store many copper printing rollers required production of print cloth, store customer s orders until needed them. mill number 7 built in 1905 further on anawan street, , still stands today. narrows center arts occupies 1 of former warehouse buildings.

in 1917, american printing company capitalized @ $2,000,000. fall river iron works, cloth-producing division of company , had huge capacity of 485,288 ring spindles , 12,702 looms. print works had capacity print 125,000 pieces per week.