Durfee Mills, historic mill complex in Fall River, Massachusetts
Durfee Mills is a large factory complex in Fall River, Massachusetts, consisting of several seven-story buildings made of gray granite arranged around a central courtyard. The site includes main mill buildings, offices, and storage structures with simple, sturdy design featuring large windows and practical Italianate-style towers that served the textile production operations.
The mills were founded in 1866 and expanded continuously over the following decades, with the third mill completed in 1881, eventually becoming the largest textile producer in Fall River. After closing in 1935, the buildings were later adapted for shops and residences, but their industrial importance led to their listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
Durfee Mills was the center of textile production in Fall River and shaped how the town developed and what people did for work. The large buildings with their strong stone walls became symbols of the industrial life that defined the community for generations.
The complex is located near the Quequechan River in central Fall River and is easily accessible on foot with clear views of the exterior stone walls and street frontage. Visitors can walk around the buildings to view the architecture from outside, and many of the original granite walls and windows remain visible and intact.
At its peak, the complex operated over 109,000 spindles and produced 23 million yards of print cloth annually, making it the dominant textile mill in Fall River. A government photographer documented the buildings in 1968 to preserve a record of this industrial achievement for future generations.
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