In 1889, Woonsocket politician Aram Pothier was appointed by Rhode Island Governor Royal C. Taft as a representative to the Exhibition Universelle de Paris, a world’s fair marking the centennial of the storming of the Bastille. Pothier’s travels in Europe took him to the textile centers of Roubaix and Turcoing, in France, and Verviers, in Belgium, where he met with representatives of textile producers in an effort to spark interest in establishing facilities in Rhode Island, and, in particular, Woonsocket.

In 1854, Edward H. Sprague deeded the Globe Mill property to B. R. Vaughan and George C. Ballou. Ten years later, George Ballou became the sole owner. It was under his direction that the Globe property was improved until it was one of the finest in the state. In 1877, the Globe and Social Mills consolidated under the Social Manufacturing Company.

<i>Images courtesy of the Woonsocket Historical Society (A & B) and the Osher Map Library (C)</i>

The Bailey Wringer did not appear on this site until 1870, when its success necessitated a move to a larger site. Initially, the company was located at Island Place on Market Square (which would later be home to Woonsocket Rubber Company, Falls Yarn, and Barnai Worsted).

The company opened in Woonsocket in 1865 after Simeon Cook persuaded the device's inventor Seldon Bailey to move his small wringer manufacturing company based in Wrentham, MA to the city. Cook insisted Woonsocket would be able to fabricate, distribute, and sell the wringers on a much larger scale.

Star Carbonizing Company was incorporated in January 1917 with a capital of $19,200. The mill began operating in 1918 and dealt in the carbonizing and scouring of wool. By 1920, the Annual Factory Inspection Report to the RI General Assembly reported 30 men working at the facility under very good conditions.

In 1971, Blackstone Valley Gas and Electric occupied Mill #4 as an office and Mill #1 for equipment storage. The power plant was no longer in use. Mill #2 was sold to Hemond, Inc., who used it for a home improvement business.

There were plans in the 1990s to convert the buildings into apartments, but funding was unable to be secured to complete the project.
 

<i>Images courtesy of the Library of Congress</i>

Lippitt Woolen Company operated the mill until the 1950s when it was sold to Hanora. Hanora operated the mill until 1975, after which it sat vacant. The complex was converted to the Hanora Lippitt apartments in 1982.
 

<i>Image courtesy of the Providence Public Library</i>

After the merger, of Uxbridge Worsted and the Bachmann Company, the Uxbridge-Bachmann Worsted Company operated on the site until 1956.

The mill was vacant in 1987, when it was severely damaged in a fire. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1989 and converted into apartments in 1990.

<i>Images courtesy of the Harris Public Library</i>

The Masurel’s 40 year enterprise in Woonsocket ended in August 1964 when the site closed permanently. At the time, it was the city’s 7th largest taxpayer and employed 190 operatives.

In November 1964, the mill’s properties were sold for about $175,000 to Samuel Brickle, 25, who was associated with his father in the Hyman Brickle & Son Co., which dealt in waste yarns. At the time of sale the Brickle firm began occupying a portion of the building, and leased space to other companies, including Sadwin Manufacturing.

In 1984, the mill was converted to the Fairmount Manor Apartments.

<i>Image courtesy of the Harris Public Library</i>

In 1957, the rubble-stone mill was purchased by the Falls Yarn Mill to expand their operations. Falls Yarn remained in operation until 1984.

In 1995, the rubble-stone mill and the attached building were considered for the site of the Museum of Work & Culture. Floor plans and promotional materials were created, but logistics caused the site to be moved to the neighboring Barnai Worsted Mill.

<i>Images courtesy of the Woonsocket Historical Society (A) and the Rhode Island Historical Society (B, C, & D)</i>