Label Type
Cultural/Historical ContextLabel
When Thomas Cutts died in 1821, he was the wealthiest taxpayer in York County. His real estate holdings alone were estimated at $100,000. At that time Cutts Island had a large iron factory, two sawmills, a gristmill, and a variety of mechanics' shops. In 1825, the island, with the exception of a small portion owned by his son Dominicus, was put up for auction. It was purchased by a company from Boston for $110,000. Within a year, the new owners began to construct a cotton mill, the first of a series of textile mills that occupied the island, now known as Factory Island.