Lincoln, Rhode Island, USA (Albion) (Manville) (Fairlawn) (Lonsdale) (Saylesville)
1878 - Lonsdale

Lonsdale. The history of this important manufacturing village is very interesting. In 1828, the privilege was purchased by Messrs. Brown & Ives, who formed themselves into a firm under the name of the Lonsdale Company, and obtained a charter from the General Assembly in January, 1834. In 1831, they erected their first mill at this place, and in 1838 erected another mill, and about the same time commenced a bleachery. As years rolled on, the business of the firm required the erection of another mill, which was put up about 1850. A dye-house had been erected a few years previous. In 1856, the company added a gas-works, lighting the works and the village. The gas has been carried in pipes to the new village, and up the river to Berkley and Ashton.

Another great improvement, was the building of a branch railroad from the main track of the Providence and Worcester Railroad, to the yard of the company, and crossing the Blackstone River on a fine iron bridge; this work was completed in 1876. By this arrangement, all of the transportation to and from these mills is done by steam. The works of this company at this place, taken altogether, are the largest in the State, and the mere enumeration and description of their various buildings would occupy several pages in our work. To give the reader some idea of this truly gigantic business, we will mention that fact that in the three mills at this place are run 50,600 spindles, upon the same style of goods as at the company's other factories, viz., silicias, cambric muslin, and fine sheetings, while the bleachery and dye-works finish up the goods made at the company's mills at Blackstone, Mass., Fitchville, Conn., Hope, Ashton, and Berkeley mills, R. I. The company employ, altogether, about 3,000 hands, of whom 1,100 are employed at Lonsdale.

History of the State of Rhode Island with Illustrations Albert J. Wright, Printer No. 79 Mille Street, corner of Federal, Boston. Hong, Wade & Co., Philadelphia 1878.
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