Spool Shop, American Thread Company

Spool Shop, American Thread Company

Black and white postcard. Despite the fact that the image on the postcard is labeled "Windham Mfg. Co., Willimantic, Conn.," the image is of buildings that belonged to the American Thread Company in Willimantic. As picture postcards generally were not published before 1900, and that several of the buildings shown in this image were demolished to make way for ATCO's Concrete Warehouse, which was built in 1916, the assumption is that this postcard was published c. 1905, seven years after the American Thread Company acquired the Willimantic Linen Company. The buildings in the foreground, including the Spool Shop with the bell tower, were erected in the 1820s as part of the Jillson Mill, acquired by the WLC in 1854. The buildings in the background were constructed by the WLC in the 1850s and 1860s. The photo shows a great deal of erosion of the riverbanks. Unknown photographer. Unknown publisher.