American Printing Co. and Metacomet Mill, the oldest textile mill in Fall River, Massachusetts.
The American Printing Co. and Metacomet Mill are factory buildings beside a river in Fall River, Massachusetts, listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The main mill dates to 1847 and is built from local stone with six stories, while the newer American Printing Mill from 1906 is constructed of red brick with a Gothic-style engine house.
Colonel Richard Borden built the Metacomet Mill in 1847 as the oldest factory still standing in Fall River, modeled after mills in Bolton, England. It was revolutionary as the first factory in the United States to use cast iron beams and girders, which allowed for stronger and more durable structures.
The name Metacomet honors a Wampanoag leader and ties the site to the region's indigenous history. The buildings reflect how textile manufacturing shaped daily life in Fall River and drew workers from many backgrounds.
The site sits beside the Quequechan River, though the natural water flow is limited today as the river was partly diverted into underground channels. The mills now house small businesses and visitors can see the old stone walls and iron supports, though access is separated from the rest of the city by highways and a bridge.
These mills witnessed major changes when Interstate 195 and the Braga Bridge were built in the 1960s, which diverted the river into underground channels. Today they sit as a hidden spot between downtown and the waterfront where visitors can find an often overlooked layer of industrial history.
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