Warwick Mills Records

This company was incorporated in 1896 to produce fine cotton goods. It was the first large mill "off the river" depending only on coal-fired steam for power. It began with 35,000 spindles and 400 employees. In 1901 the mill also included 356 looms for fine fabrics. In 1922 the plant had expanded to 2,538 looms and 32,256 ring spindles and 43,848 mule spindles. In the 1930s the company expanded and diversified by acquiring subsidiaries in New Hampshire. It bought the plants of the former Columbian manufacturing Co. in New Ipswich and Greenville.

In 1940 Greenville Mills Inc., now a subsidiary of Warwick, began producing rayon and acetate. In 1944-45 another mill, the former White Brothers mill in Jaffrey, NH, was added and began producing nylon parachute fabric. For a brief period ca 1950 Greenville Mills Inc. also included the former Cocheco Mill in Rochester, NH. In 1938 Warwick Mills also acquired a controlling interest in Amoskeag Fabrics Inc. in Manchester, NH. This plant produced synthetic fancy yarn and drapery fabrics and included Jefferson Mills which operated 1941-1958. The name Amoskeag was changed to Blackstone and the remaining stock was acquired. In 1966 Warwick Mills and Blackstone, Inc. merged and the company became Warwick Mills, Inc. with divisions in Manchester, Jaffrey, and New Ipswich, NH, and Warwick, RI. By 1970 the Rhode Island mill was closed.