1837-1847

1837-1847. . , 1844 The first woolen mill in Rochester was built by Hosea B. Richardson. The mill was later purchased by J.S. Roberts and was destroyed by fire in 1867. , , A new three-story factory was built by Samuel Richardson (son of Hosea) in 1867. This factory produced wool socks and mittens until fire destroyed it in 1882. William C. Yawkey (along with brothers Charles and William Chapman) bought the property and construction of the Western Knitting Mills began in 1896. The finished mill was powered by water, steam, and electricity. , , In 1902 a new dam was built, enabling the development of a large reservoir, known as Chapman Lake. During World War I, the mill shifted from civilian production to fulfilling military contracts. The mill's business ultimately declined during the 1920s, and it closed in 1927. In 1929 the Bradley Knitting Company purchased the facility, but closed it in 1931 due to the Great Depression. In 1935 the mill reopened to produce mittens for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) but closed again in 1939, when the contract expired. , , In 1941 McAleer Manufacturing Company purchased the mill. McAleer secured numerous defense contracts and became one of the "Arsenal of Democracy" factories. In 1947 Carlton Higbie became majority stockholder, and in 1950 the stockholders changed the company name to Higbie Manufacturing Company. In 1971 the factory became a subsidiary of International Telephone and Telegraph, changing the name to ITT-Higbie. , , In 1994 the factory was sold and underwent a $3.9 million rehabilitation. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. , , The Plesz Family.