Bernat Mill

The Bernat Mill, also known as Capron Mill, was a yarn mill in Uxbridge, Massachusetts, USA, that was destroyed by fire on July 21, 2007.

This mill complex at Uxbridge had been a hub of manufacturing for Bernat, once based in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts. The town of Uxbridge was the site of Bernat's main manufacturing unit in the later 20th century. This was the third largest yarn mill in the U.S. The Bernat mill and the town of Uxbridge have a role in U.S. history, and the history of the American Textile manufacturing.

"Bernat" is a trademark of an existing company ( [http://www.bernat.com Bernat.com] ) which manufactures yarn products.

History

The original mill, the "Capron Mill", was built in 1820, by John Capron, the father of Colonel John Capron, on the Mumford River at Uxbridge Center.cite web |title= Walking tours - Uxbridge |publisher= Blackstone Daily |url= http://www.blackstonedaily.com/Outdoors&Nature/WTuxbridge.htm |accessdate= 2007-09-23] cite book|last= Chapin |first= Judge Henry|authorlink=|coauthors=|title="Address Delivered at the Unitarian Church in Uxbridge, 1864"|pages= p.165|publisher=Charles Hamilton Press (Harvard Library; from Google Books)|date= 1881|location=Worcester, MA|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=ua-pgcKRY2QC&pg=RA1-PA172&lpg=RA1-PA172&dq=address+delivered+at+unitarian+church+chapin+henry+first+woman+voter&source=web&ots=7ee5DY_fWW&sig=zwP9Z01uzpEadUVGB_b9XeA0QTw] The first power looms for woolens were introduced at the Capron Mills. These were made in a machine shop at Cumberland, Rhode Island. These were reportedly the first power looms ever made for woolens. cite web|title="MHC Reconnaissance Survey Town Report: Uxbridge; Report Date: 1984 Associated Regional Report: Central Massachusetts;"|publisher=Massachusetts Historical Commission; |date=1984
url=http://www.sec.state.ma.us/mhc/mhcpdf/Town%20reports/Cent-Mass/uxb.pdf|accessdate=2007-11-20] The first manufacture of "Satinets" was at this mill. Uxbridge became famous for its Cashmere wool. The mill was featured in the August 24, 1953 edition of "Time Magazine," in an article entitled, "The Pride of Uxbridge"cite web|title= The Pride of Uxbridge (August 24, 1953) |url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,818770,00.html |accessdate= 2007-09-24] as the site of the "Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company", which was then one of the most successful textile mills in New England. The "Time Magazine" article interviewed the CEO of Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company, Harold Walter. This site was the hub of seven plants throughout the U.S., and some of its wool synthetic blends dominated the women's fashion industry in the early 1950s.

Research into textiles at Bachman Uxbridge Worsted Company produced a range of blended fabrics, including the "wool-nylon serge" used for army uniforms. The original U.S Air Force Uniform produced at the factory was dubbed and patented "Uxbridge Blue" or "Uxbridge 1683", after blue dye color selected at "Bachman Uxbridge". This dye was used in the manufacture of uniforms from 1947.cite web |title= Getting the Blues, by Tech. Sgt. Pat McKenna |publisher= Air Force Link |url= http://www.af.mil/news/airman/1296/duds.htm |accessdate= 2007-09-24] American Civil War uniforms, World War I Khaki overcoats, and World War II U.S. Army uniforms have all been manufactured in this mill. Latch hook yarn kits were developed by "Bernat", here circa 1968 and the name of the mill changes to the Bernat Mill, then the third largest U.S. yarn mill.

2007 fire

In the early morning of July 21, 2007, a fire erupted at the historic mill, devastating the complex on Mendon and Depot Street. 600 firefighters, from 66 communities, battled the blaze, but the complex was nearly totally destroyed. At the time of the fire, the 400,000 square feet structure, had ceased operating as a mill and had been converted into space containing 65 small businesses.cite web |title= Fire ravages old Uxbridge mill, by John Guilfoil (July 22, 2007) |publisher= The Boston Globe |url= http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/07/22/fire_ravages_old_uxbridge_mill/ |accessdate= 2007-09-24] The business losses following the fire were estimated in the millions of dollars and between 300-500 people lost their jobs.

Fire aftermath

The two-state incident command, disaster response was viewed as a regional model. The 10 alarm Uxbridge Mill fire, made National and local news for nearly a week. Senator John Kerry introduced loans from his committee in the U.S. Senate to support the business owners impacted by the fire. Governor Deval Patrickcite web |title= Uxbridge video |publisher= telegram.com video |url= http://www.telegram.com/assets/static/video/2007/uxbridgeFire/index.html
accessdate= 2007-09-24] left the National Governor's Conference in Michigan to return to Uxbridge to be present for the immediate recovery. The Uxbridge Mill fire was the state's first major disaster of his new administration. Governor Patrick invoked immediate state and federal aide to victims and businesses of the Uxbridge mill fire. Hurricane Katrina funds are being applied to the relief efforts. The fire marshall's report concluded that there was unpermitted welding occurring in a mill business, the sprinkler was not operable, and that both contributed to the fire.cite web|title="Mill Owners Hope to Move On"|publisher=Milford Daily News.com|url=http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x250808091|accessdate=2007-12-01] Mill owners planned to rebuild.

ee also

*Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor

Notes

External links

* [http://www.uxbridge-ma.gov/Documents/TownManager/BernatMillPressRelease20071211.pdf Late 2007 Uxbridge Mill fire press release]
* [http://helpuxbridge.com/ Help Uxbridge]
* [http://www.mfontainephotography.com/Shows/Bernat%20Mills%20Burns%20High%20Speed%20Internet.html Bernat Mill fire video] (requires Flash)