History Merrimack Manufacturing Company

the merrimack manufacturing company shown dotted lines (demolished) @ merrimack river end of merrimack canal

after death of francis cabot lowell of boston manufacturing company, associates (commonly referred boston associates) began planning larger operation in east chelmsford, massachusetts, along merrimack river. merrimack manufacturing company, modeled after second boston manufacturing company mill, built concurrently necessary canals, machine shop, dyehouse, , boardinghouses operatives. system of operation company employed became known lowell system. capitalized $600,000, typical product calico cloth. situated @ foot of merrimack canal, original mills received full 32 drop of river. closely associated proprietors of locks , canals , @ 1 point, merged company under same agents (such kirk boott), merrimack company parent company of later lowell firms - although technically competitors. merrimack company powerful in politics of settlement, later town, , later city, of lowell.

however, textile production in united states shifted away new england, merrimack manufacturing company s fortunes reversed. company able survive great depression due military contracts , awards revamped surrounding economy; among last of lowell s textile giants close. shortly after ceased operations in late 1950s, entire complex demolished urban renewal in 1960. few years later, many of boardinghouses destroyed well. today, site occupied new arterial roads, parking lots, few low-rise office buildings, , high-rise housing tower, newer buildings of lowell high school.

from 1900 until 1946, merrimack manufacturing company ran plant in huntsville, alabama well.