Ball-o-thread

An antique ball of thread from the American Thread Company, Fall River, Massachusetts. The Kerr Mills became part of ATCO in 1899, and the Fall River plant closed in 1953. The entire complex was destroyed by a massive fire in January 1987. I remember seeing the flames just starting in the first mill on my way to school that morning, but missed the fire because I had to get to school. I picked up this entire original box of old crochet thread on ebay a few months back. Cool piece of local textile history.

Lowell Shuttle

An antique wooden loom shuttle; Lowell Shuttle Company, Lowell, Massachusetts, Model 484.
I have been trying to find out more information on this company for a while, but have had no luck. This one is in very good shape, it seems.

Fall River's First "Drive-in" Teller

Fall River Herald News Clipping, February 16, 1953. Fall River National Bank advertises the first drive-up bank window in the city.

City of Taunton

The Wreck of the City of Taunton, Somerset side of Mount Hope Bay. The remains of a Fall River Line freight steamer. Grounded in the 1930s and abandoned. A most ironic ship name for me, since I now live in the "City of Taunton".

The 292' ship was built in 1892 at Chelsea, Massachusetts. The remnants of the wooden hull are visible at low tide, just south of the Braga Bridge in Somerset.

Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company

Old Colony and Fall River Railroad Company.
Stock certificate signed on September 20, 1854 by Alexander Holmes, company president. The Old Colony and Fall River Railroad was formed as a meger between the Old Colony Railroad and the Fall River Railroad, and provided rail service from Boston to either Plymouth or Fall River. The railroad would expand greatly in the late 1800s, first to Newport, Rhode Island, later to Cape Cod, and also to Central Massachusetts and New Bedford also. This stock certificate was for six shares bought by Mr. Elijah Hale of Rockbottom, Massachusetts (which later became the village of Gleasondale, in what now is the Town of Stow).

Barnaby Zephyrs

"Do not choose your wash fabrics for 1910 until you have seen... Barnaby's fabric of quality." Sample of fine Scotch Gingham. The Barnaby Manufacturing Company was established in Fall River in 1892 on Quequechan Street. Later, until the late 1970s the site was used by Frito-Lay. In the 1980s it became the Quality Outlets which included factory outlet stores for Levi's, Dockers and a very good book store I used to go to often to get cheap books. Most recently it was occupied by Mill Stores and Cardi Furniture. The factory was demolished in 2010 for a shopping center that has not yet been built.

Firestone Fire 1941

Firestone Fire, Fall River, Massachusetts, October 11, 1941. What was originally the American Print Works mill went up in a huge inferno. Millions of dollars of U.S. Government rubber was lost, just several weeks before Pearl Harbor and the U.S. entry into WWII. Firestone had only occupied the building for about three years, but would remain in the rest of the complex into the 1960s. The company made gas masks and other rubber items for the war effort.

Cook Borden Lumber Yard

Cook Borden Lumber Yard, 1883, Fall River, Massachusetts waterfront. For many years the largest lumber dealer in the city. The site was located next to where Point Gloria is today.