Globe Mill
In 1901, the Globe Mill of the Social Manufacturing Company, like many cotton mills in the area, was flourishing. Noting the success of the Social Manufacturing's three mill sites (Social, Nourse, & Globe), the Lippitt family (who had holdings in Social Manufacturing) consolidated their Manville Company with the enterprise. The newly formed partnership made them the city's largest textile employer, with just over 1,700 workers.
Globe Mill
In 1827, James Arnold (who owned nearly all of the land that constitutes modern Woonsocket) sold six acres to Thomas Arnold, Thomas A. Paine and Marvel Shove, for $2,000. The three men used the site to construct a three story cotton mill for their newly constituted Globe Company. Production began with 2,000 spindles & 50 looms. Within two years the company failed and Samuel Shove became the owner of the property. The property was sold to Thomas Sprague & Sons in 1834, and in 1846 Edward Sprague (one of the sons) became sole owner.
Social Manufacturing
The site that was once home of the city's first textile mill is now is now home to the city’s World War II Memorial State Park.
<i>Images courtesy of Potter Photography</i>
Alzira de Jesus Rodrigues
Alzira immigrated to the U.S. at the age of 16 from a village in the north of Portugal called Boucoais. She did not speak a word of English upon her arrival here. She settled with family in South Attleboro, MA and began working in the Royal Weaver Mill. In 1933 she met Mario Rodrigues in Valley Falls, Cumberland. Shortly after, in 1934 they moved to Woonsocket where Alzira took a job as a weaver in the Glenark Mill. She worked in this mill until 1947 when her daughter, Natalia was born. In 1952 the family moved to North Smithfield. Her husband, Mario died in 1987.