Lawrence Woollen Mill ~ " Perry's Mill"
Early Days: Who Was Here?
We have little information about the people at the Lawrence Woolen Company. Captain Oliver H. Perry built the three story Lawrence Woolen mill in 1863 and the following year the mill began producing woolens, cloakings, suitings, and shawls. The mill operated as the Lawrence Woolen Company until Kunhardt bought it in 1886.
"The Lawrence Gazetter", 1894 p. 22
Capt. Oliver H. Perry and others in 1863 built a brick mill, three stories high on Union Street, extending from Island street to the Merrimack River. the capital stock was $150,000.00, the shares being $500.00 each. The mill commenced operations in 1854 in producing woolens, cloakings, suitings, opera flannels, shawls, etc. George Putnam was treasurer, and Wendall, Fay & Cp., selling agents. The mills were purchased by Phillips and Kunhardt in 1886, and have since been operated by that firm in the manufacturing of woolen goods. The New York office is at 54 and 56 Worth Street."
"Textile Mill Agents Lawrence, Mass 1846 - 1900"p. 6
"Named after his father, Captain Perry was the third son of Oliver Hazard Perry, commodore in the War of 1812, and also the nephew of Commodore Matthew Perry, who opened Japan to the US, 1852-1854.
Captain Perry entered the navy as a midshipman at fourteen years old. He served in the Wilkes exploring expedition and was wrecked in the Peacock. he also served on the coast survey and commanded a battery during the bombardment of Vera Cruz. He resigned while a lieutenant in the navy and became a manufacturer; was agent of the Middlesex Mills in Lowell and of theBay State Mills in Lawrence. In 1864 he built, for himself and his business partners, the Lawrence Woolen Company's Mill,better known as Perry's Mill and was sole manager of the concern until his death.
There are two significant points to mention about Perry's career: 1 - he apparently became a manufacturer without any previous experience and 2 - he went from the position of agent to become an owner."
Interior working conditions in the early mills were often crowded, unsanitary and unsafe.