Y e a r - 1 8 9 5.
- Image used with Permission -
The above photo is the oldest known image of the Tucapau Mill
being kept on record by the Startex-Tucapau Historical Society.
It was taken just prior to the construction having been finished.
The Belfry with the pointed roof was a very common feature on
all mill buildings of this period ( middle 1800's through to 1930 )
and was used to house the Bell, it would be rung to indicate
the start and finish of each shift.
Some of the features of this Mill included :-
Stores & Finished goods floor
Cutting & Finishing floor
The main loom floor
Dynamo room *
Carding room
Bleach room
Dye room
The Dynamo room as mentioned above was used for the generation
of D.C. power to drive the large amounts of Looms plus all other
machinery involved in the day to day running of a mill of this size.
Year - 1 9 0 0 .
Seen below :-
The first Draper Corporation type of Loom to be installed on the loom floor.
This is a Model " A " Northrop Loom from the George Draper Corporation
built in Hopedale, Massachusetts and was manufactured in 1893 - 1894.
This model of loom was also called the 1894 Pattern - and was installed in
the Queen City Mill as well as the Amoskeag Falls Mill in New Hampshire.
Above :-
The text from the same page - part of it READS :-
This was the original loom sent out on the Queen City, TUCAPAU , and other early orders.
The above photo and text coming from a 1900 Draper Corporation manual.
Below :-
From the Draper manual giving the Loom Quantity at Tucapau for January 1, 1900 - totaling 469 Looms.
In the list - Spartan Mills also gets a mention - they were later to take over the Tucapau operation in 1936.
A 1900 account mentioning the Dynamo Room / as at top of page. *
From the 1900 Edition of the Draper manual ( pp 10 )
Year - 1 9 0 3 .
- Image used with Permission -
In the above photo flood waters can be seen surging down and around the rear of the Mill.
One will also notice the additions to the building since 1895, namely the new light chamber
- top of the roof, plus a chimney and if you count the windows - the mill has been extended
by at least one third the length of the original building, seen at top the of this page.
The full length of the building ( internally ) can be gained in the advertisement below.
~ The Great Pacolet River flooding of 1903 ~
During the early morning of June 6th the Pacolet River burst its banks causing one of the
worst flash floods of the century. Moist air associated with a low pressure trough the day
before produced heavy rain which had tracked across northwestern South Carolina overnight
and by mornings fall all tributaries feeding the Pacolet river were in full flood adding to the
awesome destruction. The Textile communities of Clifton and Pacolet were the worst effected
with waters rising to a 40 feet level in the worst hit areas, and with flood damage in all other
streams in northwest South Carolina. The Clifton Mill Plants ( 2 ) now reduced down to one with
Plant No.1 damaged beyond repair and down river Plant No.2 having extensive water damage.
Housing, Churches, Industrial plants and crops were all washed away in the fury of the flood, the
Tucapau area did not escape from this fury with damage to housing, crops and water damage to
the ground floor of the Tucapau Mill. Between Fifty to Sixty five people were drowned by the flood
waters, and the total economy devastated by over five million dollars.
Year - 1 9 3 4 .
Above :-
Thanks to a 1934 " Cotton " journal & Sherwin-Williams paints, a picture of the loom
floor emerges with a before and after shot also showing the Draper Model "D" looms.
On September 3rd 1934, just two months after this image was published mostly all
of the Cotton Mills throughout the Industry and taking in all States went on Strike.
Times were already extremely tough due to the "Great Depression", but this strike
lasting months would eventually have a devastating effect on the whole Industry.
Below :-
A closer look at the text from the advert above.
The above scan gives a good view of the Looming floor at the Tucapau Mill.
By July 1, 1904 the Draper Company had sold a total of 1759 Northrop Looms to the Tucapau Mill
The End
For a more detailed History of the Tucapau Mill, which is still in existence today,
Click Below
for
THE STARTEX / TUCAPAU HISTORICAL SOCIETY - Official Website.
Click HereThe Society always welcomes new information, newspaper clippings and photos at any time !!
So, dig deep in that closet or basement - for one never knows, You may just have something of Interest to the Society.
This section is reserver for Old Tucapau / Startex Material and Advertisements !!
Year - 1 9 5 4 .
Below :-
A 1954 Startex Advertisement.
Credit for this image goes to :- " Deborah Sloan " from
Lamar, Colorado.
To learn more about Lamar County on the Famous - Santa Fe Trail
Click Below
Click Here
Year - 1 9 3 3 .
Below
~ A Startex Mill Store trading token from 1933 ~
A tragic reminder of the " Great Depression " when Coinage became scarce
and people from all Nations had no other choice but to resort to using Tokens.
The Tucapau Mill was no exception to this every day occurrence, which allowed
purchases to be made for the trade of a token or tokens. Tokens were also used
as gifts in these very tough times to buy the Normal Necessities of every day Life.
- For Information on Northrop Looms and The Draper Corporation plus a thorough History of the Draper Family -
Click Below
" Old Hopedale Stories "
An in depth look at Hopedale, MA - Past and Present.
And while you are there - Stop off at "The Little Red Shop" - Brimming with History.
Presented by Dan Malloy.
Back to ~ Old Mills of the American Paper & Textile Industry ~
Click Below
Click Here
