These works were built in 1861 by Oliver, Harvey and John F. Arnold. The firm was known as Harvey Arnold & Co. July 28, 1873, John F. Arnold sold to Edward H. Arnold his interest of one-quarter in the works. July 1, 1874, Harvey Arnold sold to Albert C. Houghton one-third of his interest of three-quarters in the Print Works. The business was still being conducted under the name of Harvey Arnold & Co. During the panic of 1874 and `75 this firm went down with many others. October 10 l876, the Arnold Print Works Company was organized, with David A. Brayton of Fall River, president, and Albert C. Houghton, treasurer. In December of 1882 Mr. Brayton’s interests were purchased, A. C. Houghton becoming president and William Arthur Gallup treasurer. Under the present management the works have been greatly enlarged, and a new industry, the “Blue Dip,” added. They are running eight printing machines, which turn out 20,000 pieces of prints per week, giving employment to 500 hands in the printing and dying establishment alone. In December, 1872, the works were destroyed by fire. Work of reconstruction, however, immediately begun, and the works were started aprain with the latest improved machinery in the spring of 1874.

The old Brick Factory, so called, stood between Marshall street and the Hoosac river, about on the site of the building known as the Marshall street rink. It was erected in 1811 by an incorporated joint stock company of twenty persons, each investing $1,000. The water privilege and about six acres of land were purchased of Jerre Colgrove. The deed was dated March 7, 1811.

The close of the war and the opening of our ports to European goods in 1815, caused the stoppage of this mill. It lay idle till 1819, when it was leased by David Estes and Oliver Parker, who run it for three years. It again lay idle until about 1825, when Thomas Higginbotham & Co. purchased the entire property, carrying on business for several years.

Joseph Marshall was the next owner of this property, then James E. Marshall, Wells, White & Co., and I Joseph L. White. A. P. Butler & Co. purchased it at auction, and in 1858 sold to Jackson, Ray & Co. The old brick was not used for manufacturing after 1857, and the building being in such a worn condition it was soon after this pulled down.

This was the second cotton mill in town and was built in 1813,by Giles Tinker, W. E. Brayton, Benjamin Sibley, Wm. Bradford and Henry Remmington. It was located on the site of the present Eagle mill on Eagle street. 0wing to the dullness of business after the war of 1812, the factory did not pay. The four first named proprietors sold out, and the mill lay idle for years, or until it was hired in 1820 by Caleb B. Turner. He afterwards leased it to Brown, Jenks & Tyler who for about three years operated that and another mill near by. The next lessee was Dr. Isaac Hodges, who ran the mill two years. About 1838, it was purchased by James E. Marshall, rented to and run by John H. Orr and John N. Chase. The entire mill and its contents were destroyed by fire in 1845, Messrs. Orr and Chase losing about $3,000 in machinery and stock.

Messrs. A. W. Richardson, Joseph L. White, R. H. Wells and Jerome B. Jackson purchased the site of their mill of the Marshalls in 1849. The three last named gentlemen sold to Messrs. Richardson and Samuel Gaylord about 1859. Mr. Gaylord soon died, and in 1862 Mr. Richardson had completed the erection of the present Eagle mill, and ordered machinery for fitting it up. Early in 1863 Messrs. W. W. Freeman, L. L. Brown and Wm. S. Blackinton became partners with Mr. Richardson, and it was this year the mill was furnished and put in running order. It has since that time constituted a part of the property of the Freeman Manufacturing Company.