Northbridge in Worcester County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Rockdale Mill

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

1. Rockdale Mill Marker

Inscription. The mill complex known as the Rockdale Mill dates from 1857 with the construction of the stone cotton mill by Paul Whitin & Sons. That building, along with several brick additions, produced much of the cotton cloth manufactured in Northbridge in the nineteenth & early twentieth centuries.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 42° 9.264′ N, 71° 39.117′ W. Marker is in Northbridge, Massachusetts, in Worcester County. It is at the intersection of Sutton Street and Providence Road, on the right when traveling south on Sutton Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 10 Sutton St, Northbridge MA 01534, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Massachusetts’ Quiet Corner,

in Greater Worcester,

and in the Blackstone Valley.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Plummer's Landing (approx. 1.9 miles away); Blackstone Canal (approx. 1.9 miles away); Welcome to Blackstone River and Canal Heritage State Park (approx. 1.9 miles away); Corporal John M. Dawson (approx. 3 miles away); Whitinsville Social Library (approx. 3 miles away); David P. Casey (approx. 3.1 miles away); Civil War Memorial (approx. 3.1 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. 3.1 miles away).

Also see . . .
1. Colonel Paul Whitin (1767-1831).

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Paul Whitin and four of his sons would become very influential in the development of the textile industry in the Northbridge, Massachusetts area during the 19th century, establishing or acquiring several mills throughout the Blackstone Valley area, including ones at Uxbridge, Linwood, Riverdale and Rockdale. It was the Whitin Machine Works however, which would have the greatest impact on the area and the textile industry. (Northbridge Historical Society) (Submitted on November 6, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

2. Rockdale Common Housing District. Wikipedia entry on the historic district, a collection of tenement houses the Whitin family built for their mills' workers from c. 1880 to 1920. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. (Submitted on November 6, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

2. Rockdale Mill Marker

Marker is on the guardhouse at lower right corner.

The Rockdale Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, September 30, 2024

3. The Rockdale Mill

Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 6, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 614 times since then and 101 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 6, 2024, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.