The Morelle brothers kept Star Carbonizing in operation through 1990.

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

In 1953, the Guerin Mills, the area’s largest textile employer at the time, reached an empasse with its unionized workforce. Guerin announced the impending shutdown of all Woonsocket operations unless its workers accepted a reduction in pay exceeding 25%. The workers, most of whom were members of the ITU, responded with a strike that shut down all production. Management made good on its pledge, and left Woonsocket. The mills closed on June, 8, 1954.

After World War II, Taft-Peirce continued to design and bring to market both improved versions of its previous designs and new machines and tools.

During the Korean War, Taft-Peirce established a department for the manufacture of propeller shafts for the Pratt & Whitney Division of the United Aircraft Corporation and also designed atomic reactor control mechanisms for the Westinghouse Electric Corporation. After the end of the conflict, the company produced parts for the submarine-fired Polaris Missile.

The Sydney Blumenthal Company operated the mill as a textile business until 1955. While the mill would remain active for another forty years, it would never operate as a textile mill again. Its next occupant was Royal Electric, fabricators of electrical equipment. When Royal Electric closed in 1965, ITT Wire & Cable took over similar production until 1971.

Eugene A. Bonte, the president of Jules Desurmont, purchased the Riverside Worsted Company in 1952 and formed the Bonte Spinning Company. From 1953 through the early 1970s, he shared the mill complex with other businesses including: Enterprise Dye Works, Frank A. Murphy Company (wools), Kane Knitting Mills, Yorkshire Worsted Mills, Wanskuck Mill Textile Manufacturers, and B.B. Textile Inc.

Barnai Worsted ceased operations in Woonsocket in 1968 and relocated production to South Carolina. That year, the site was purchased by Lincoln Textile Corporation for $50,000. The company used the building for its dyeing processes. Operations became unprofitable, due in part to more strictly enforced environmental laws, and production stopped at the end of 1990.

Harris Mill #2 is still standing. Mills #3 & 4 were razed and the site they once occupied is now a parking lot.

<i>Image courtesy of the Rhode Island Historical Society</i>

The American Wringer site is now home to Woonsocket's post office and police station.

<i>Images courtesy of Potter Photography</i>

Jacob Finkelstein & Sons is still standing and is leased as business space.

<i>Images courtesy of Potter Photography</i>

The site of the Clinton Mill is now home to a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

<i>Image courtesy of Charles Noel</i>