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Abstract
This paper describes and analyzes the recent experience of communities in the six New England states concerning the revitalization of their 19th century mills and mill yards. It begins with an examination of the importance of these complexes to the economy of New England in the 19th and early 20th centuries and the slow decline of the mills into the present. It then identifies the factors that are now stimulating their revitalization and provides myriad examples of where success has occurred. This is followed by a section on ‘Lessons Learned’ from the experience, and a closing comment concerning future actions.
Notes
1 For a concise summary of how this occurred see Femins (Citation2000).
2 See, for example, the comments of Chevalier (Citation1839) where he compares the factories to religious structures.
3 For an example of this transformation see Bluestone and Harrison (Citation1982).
4 See, for example, Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2008).
5 The story of how this occurred is nicely explained in Steinberg (Citation1991), see especially Chapter Two.
6 The National Trust for Historic Preservation was one of the early promoters of adaptive re-use in New England. See for example Donovan (Citation1983). Also see Gause (Citation1996).
7 Many of these processes are explained in Tunis (Citation1999).
8 The term, we fear, has lost its clear meaning and is often now used interchangeably with ‘factory’. See Tann (Citation1970, pp. 3, 5, 27). Also see Biggs (Citation1996, pp. 5–7).
9 For example, the Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC), one of America's premier computer companies for the last quarter of the 20th century purchased a 1.1 million square foot former woolen factory in Maynard, Massachusetts in 1957 as its world headquarters. Over the years, the company's employees fondly referred to the massive structure as ‘The Mill’. See Schein (Citation2003, p. 49).
10 See, for example, ‘Slatersville’ in Jordy (Citation2004, pp. 244–249).
11 For pictures of the decay see Zimiles & Zimiles (1973, p. 228).
12 ‘Open Square’ consists of 8½ acres and seven buildings in Holyoke's Canal District. It is a mixed use development. Its significance is that the buildings, primarily red brick, are quite striking. Holyoke is amongst the poorest communities in New England (see http://www.opensquare.com/overview.php. Accessed August 15, 2008).
13 This museum was built on a former super fund site. It is among the largest contemporary museums in the United States (see http://www.massmoca. Accessed August 20, 2008).
14 For more on this point see Wermiel (Citation2000).
15 See State of Rhode Island Laws: Chapter 42-64.9: Mill Building and Revitalization Act, 1996.
16 Such funds were offered to the Clock Tower Place Mill in Maynard, Massachusetts through the Massachusetts Public Works for Economic Development Program. John Mullin, Interview with Joseph Mullin, Director of Public Affairs, August 18, 2008.
17 Interview with William Warner, City Planner, City of Middleton, Connecticut, September 15, 2006.
18 See, for example Commonwealth of Massachusetts (2006, pp. 1–3).
19 For more detail see Blackstone Valley Tourism Council (2003).
20 See ‘The West Groton Mill Request for Proposals’, Town of Groton, Massachusetts, July 5, 1996. Now called ‘Rivercourt’ the mill is full. John Mullin, interview with Michelle Collette, Groton Town Planner, August 18, 2008.
21 For more on Community Development Corporations see Vidal & Keating (2004, pp. 125–137). Also see C. Steinbach, Community Development Corporations in U.S. Civil Society. http://www.ids.ac.uk/ids/civsoc/final/usa/usa2.doc