The original buildings in the complex occupied by Malden Mills Industries, Inc.
were constructed in the late 1800’s and early 1900’s and are typical of heavy timber mill
construction industrial buildings found in many New England towns and cities. These
large multi-story buildings were constructed with brick and mortar exterior bearing
walls and with heavy timber interior columns and floor joists. The interior floor areas
were designed with large open floor areas and ceiling heights of up to 20 feet to allow
for machinery and unobstructed flow of materials. Automatic sprinklers were provided
to reduce the risk of a fire involving the interior of one of these large structures.
The complex included several large mill construction buildings, stretching for
blocks along the banks of the Spickett River. It was originally constructed with separations
of 50 to 60 feet between the major buildings, however numerous additions to
accommodate the changing needs of the tenants had narrowed the alleys to less than 30
feet in some places. Several overhead passageways were added over the years to allow
for the flow of materials from one area to another, interconnecting several of the buildings
and providing potential paths for fire extension.
The complex was originally constructed as a piano factory. From the 1920’s to
the 1940’s, the property was occupied by a clothing manufacturer, until an exodus of the
textile industry from the area left the complex vacant for several years. The property
was subsequently subdivided among a number of owners as parts were converted and
occupied by different tenants for a variety of purposes.
In 1956, Malden Mills Industries located a division on the site to take advantage
of the location, facilities, and the glut of skilled workers left behind in the wake of the
migration of the textile industry out of New England. The new occupants were very successful
at developing new products and gradually expanded their operations into several
of the buildings in the complex. At the time of the fire Malden Mills employed approximately
2,500 workers at this location. Other tenants, including Acadia Mills, occupied
additional buildings within the complex.
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