In 1863 W. W. Freeman, L. L. Brown and William S. Blackinton, purchased all interest in the entire property of A. W. Richardson under the firm name of Richardson, Freeman & Co. In 1864 Mr. Richardson sold his entire interest in the concern, and the name was changed to W. W. Freeman & Co. The Eagle mill had just been completed and the machinery placed in which had previously been ordered by Mr. Richardson. The print works was running with two machines. Improvements in the property were constantly made from that time until it reached a capacity of seven machines. In 1874 the name was again changed to the Freeman Manufacturing Company. Upon the death of Mr. Blackinton in 1876, L. L. Brown purchased his interest from the heirs. In 1881 Mr. Freeman, being of ill health, was obliged to retire from business, and on the eighth of February of that year, the interest of W. W. and Wallace Freeman, about one-half the concern, was purchased by L. L. Brown and John Bracewell, who changed the firm name to Freeman Manufacturing Co. The plant now includes all the water privilege, buildings and machinery of Freeman P. W. Eagle, Estes and Stone mills on Union and River streets, together, with all the tenements connected with this property. The company run eleven machines, employ 600 hands, paying them about $20,000 every four weeks.

In 1846, Messrs. McLellan, Hunter & Co., purchased of Deacon David Temple, the waterpower and ten acres of land for $1,000. They erected a wooden building, put in machinery for cotton manufacturing and built two dwelling-houses at a cost of about $12,000. The goods made were yard wide sheetings.

In 1848 the proprietors sold the whole premises to Ansel B. Kain, who failed to make proper payments, and the property reverted to the original owners. November 1, 1851, James Hunter sold his interest to his partners. They soon after disposed of one-half the entire property to Mason B. Green, who only remained about six months. In 1851 the entire property was sold to Messrs. Pitt and Snow, the latter soon retiring but the former continuing the business until 1856, when he became insolvent. In 1857 R. R. Andrews purchased the entire property of the assignees. He made some improvements in the mill and tenements, and manufactured yard wide sheetings. In the financial crash succeeding the war, Mr. Andrews made an assignment, although he continued to run for three years after. About 1842 a stock company was formed who built an elegant brick mill, but the company did not exist long enough to finish and furnish it. In 1880 the present company was formed with Theodore Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, as president. The company was formed for the manufacture of ginghams, having, a capital stock of $250,000. In 1882, William C. Plunkett became president of the company, which position he held until his death. William B. Plunkett is at present the business manager. The mills have 325 looms, giving employment to about 400 hands, and turn out about 250,000 yards of goods per month. They have greatly enlarged the works, built new tenements and greatly improved the grounds at the expense of many thousands of dollars. It will be hard to find a more complete factory village in this section of the country than Greylock.

In 1843 Edwin Childs and David C. Rogers commenced manufacturing boots and shoes in Penniman’s row. In 1845, the business extending, they leased and occupied the building now occupied by Tower & Porter, on Eagle street, and Harvey Ingraham became a partner. In 1847 Mr. Childs retired from the firm. In 1847 Joshua K. Rogers became a partner in the firm of Rogers, Ingraham & Co. In 1850 George Millard bought out this firm, taking as partners Harvey Ingraham and W. F. Waterbury. In 1857 Mr. Millard bought out his partners and conducted the business alone.