The Desurmont Worsted Mill was one of several Woonsocket worsted mills built by French and Belgian textile businessmen in the early twentieth century as a result of mayor Aram Pothier’s efforts to attract foreign investment to Woonsocket.
In 1907, Jules and Georges Desurmont, who operated Jules Desurmont & Fils (translation: sons) in Tourcoing, France, began planning the construction of their Woonsocket mill. Construction was completed in 1909 and production of worsted and merino yarns began at the facility with 14,400 mule spindles and 1,800 twisting spindles. By 1910 the company employed 346 operators.
In 1931, Desurmont became the birthplace of Woonsocket’s largest union: the International Textile Union (later the Independent Trade Union). Founded by Joseph Schmetz, a Belgian textile worker at Desurmont, ITU was an industrial union, which meant workers of any skill were eligible to join. The ITU conducted its first strike in 1931 in protest of a wage cut at the Desurmont Mill. After one week, the Desurmont Company agreed to increase wages for all 625 employees by 7.5 percent. The successful negotiations proved the strength of the ITU and persuaded employees at other mills to join the union. By 1934, Woonsocket membership in the ITU reached 1,500 workers. This would climb to 6,000 by 1936.
In 1935, the company changed its name to Riverside Worsted Company and sold the property to other interests, although they continued to operate at the site. They remained until 1952.
<i>Image courtesy of the Woonsocket Historical Society</i>
