Mill Details

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill

Chester Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: c. 1890
Township: East Brandywine Twp.
Watersource: Beaver Creek.

Location / Directions

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill

Located just west of Downingtown, about 2 miles north of US 30 on Pa 340.

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill
Jim LaDrew 08/17/2019

The earliest part of the present structure dates to 1841, when Abraham Bond purchased the property, and built the mill, producing Kentucky jeans, a cotton denim fabric. The mill was severely damaged by fire in1844.

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill
Jim LaDrew 08/17/2019

William D McFarland purchased the mill in 1848, and during the Civil War, produced uniforms for the Union Army. Inn 1864, James C Roberts acquired the mill; and by 1870, it was powered by water (est. 16hp) and steam (est. 18hp). The mill, still under management by the Roberts estate, closed down in 1894 due to the ripple effect of the Panic of 1893.

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill
Jim LaDrew 08/17/2019

1906: Fredrick Pearson purchased the mill in 1906 and operated it until his death in 1925. In 1927 the Collins and Aikman Corp. purchased the property from the Fredrick Pearson estate, producing upholstery cloth and was a supplier to Fisher Body Works. During WWII the mill produced various products for the military, "devoting nearly all of the efforts to the production of materials needed by the armed forces," including fabric for Army Air Corp jacket lining.

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill
Jim LaDrew 08/17/2019

After the war, the mill produced men’s and women’s wearfabrics, as well as their Candalon brand of woven nylon which was used in the automobile industry. Collins and Aikman closed the mill in 1954, removed the equipment and relocated the operation to the southern United States. From 1960 thru 1965, the mill was used as a warehouse, then was finally closed and fell into disrepair, some of the buildings collapsing.

Bondsville Woolen & Cotton Mill
Jim LaDrew 08/17/2019

The mill was acquired by East Brandywine Township in 2004 and work was begun on restoration of the existing buildings in 2006. SInce it operated up to 1960, many of the structures were still standing, although some had collapsed.The restoration is all volunteer labor, with the township providing oversight and materials. We get together one or two mornings a week, year round, weather permitting and I think I can speak for the rest of the volunteers in saying it's a very gratifying experience. Jim LaDrew 2019

 
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