Assabet Woolen Mill

The Assabet Woolen Mill is an industrial complex stretching along the Assabet River, featuring multiple red brick buildings with a distinctive clock tower erected in 1892. The site comprises renovated structures now housing offices and workspaces for various small businesses.

The mill was founded in 1847 by Amory Maynard and initially produced wool cloth and carpets, including uniforms for the American Civil War. Later the site became a major technology center that reshaped the region's economy and employment landscape.

The mill's transition from textile factory to innovation hub shaped Maynard's identity as a working town where industrial labor gave way to technology. Today, visitors can still see how the red brick buildings line the riverfront, telling the story of the community that depended on its success.

The grounds are open to public access, allowing visitors to explore the factory architecture and room layouts at their own pace. Morning visits offer better opportunities to see ongoing business activity and get a feel for how the restored spaces function today.

The hand-wound clock tower from 1892 still operates today and ranks among the oldest continuously functioning towers of its kind in North America. The timepiece receives regular maintenance and remains a landmark visible from across the river.