Boston Manufacturing Company

The Boston Manufacturing Company is a cotton mill in Waltham featuring four stories where carding, spinning, and weaving occurred together under one roof. The facility combined multiple production stages in a single building, representing a new approach to textile manufacturing.

Francis Cabot Lowell established the mill in 1813 after studying British power loom designs during European travels. The foundation marked the beginning of integrated textile production in America and influenced how factories would be organized nationwide.

The factory hired local farm women who lived in company boarding houses and worked under structured daily routines. These workers became central figures in the community and shaped how the town developed around industrial labor.

The Charles River powered the machinery through an advanced system of leather belts and pulleys. The water-driven system kept the equipment running continuously without expensive fuel costs.

Paul Moody ran a machine shop at the facility where he trained mechanics who later shared their technical skills across other American textile factories. This workshop became a training ground where practical knowledge spread and shaped industrial growth nationwide.

Location: Waltham

Inception: 1813

Address: 144-190 Moody Street

GPS coordinates: 42.37306,-71.23583

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:46