Dearborn in Wayne County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Hanks Silk Mill

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2014

1. Hanks Silk Mill Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.

Silk comes from silkworm, which is really a caterpillar. One cocoon contains a single strand of silk up to 1,000 yards long.

Workers spent tedious hours here, tending to the silkworms and spinning thread from their cocoons.
The Hanks family ran this mill, which is believed to be the first water powered silk mill in the United States. The thread they made in this mill was sold across the country. They later moved to a larger mill, where they continued to make thread until the 1920s.
Built in 1812 near Mansfield, Connecticut.

Erected by The Henry Ford.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1812.

Location. 42° 18.379′ N, 83° 13.765′ W. Marker is in Dearborn, Michigan, in Wayne County. Marker is on Bagley Avenue near Junction Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Dearborn MI 48124, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Armington & Sims Machine Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Millpond (about

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300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Smith Creek Depot (about 400 feet away); Wright Cycle Shop (about 400 feet away); Sir John Bennett Jewelry Shop (about 400 feet away); Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park Office and Library (approx. 0.2 miles away); The Carver Lab (approx. 0.2 miles away); Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dearborn.

More about this marker. This marker and the building it identifies are found in Greenfield Village, a outdoor historical museum/park, located at 20900 Oakwood Boulevard in Dearborn, Michigan. The road names use on this page are those found inside Greenfield Village and are for pedestrians use only (except for the occasional Model T running around).

Also see . . . Traditional Silk Making Today - vimeo.com. A 3 minute video clip on how silk thread is made using traditional methods (Submitted on November 10, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2014

2. Hanks Silk Mill Marker

Hanks Silk Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2014

3. Hanks Silk Mill

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 13, 2014

4. Hanks Silk Mill

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 10, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 482 times since then and 46 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 10, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.