Discover how a single water power sparked a new kind of American city and textile industry. This book presents Nathan Appleton’s firsthand perspective on the rise of Lowell, Massachusetts, and the power loom that transformed U.S. manufacturing. It blends personal reminiscence with the larger story of innovation, investment, and community planning that built a thriving mill town.
This edition gathers Appleton’s memories of early meetings, key partnerships, and the practical steps that brought cotton manufacture to New England. It traces the move from Waltham to Lowell, the development of calico printing, and the vital roles played by the men who funded and managed the ventures. The narrative emphasizes practical challenges, technical advances, and the social vision that supported workers and a growing city.
- How the power loom and other machinery changed weaving and production in America
- The people and partnerships that launched the Merrimack Manufacturing Company and the Locks & Canals
- From the shoestring beginnings to a planned industrial community with schools and housing
- The evolution of manufacturing leadership, capital, and technology in the 1820s–1840s
Ideal for readers of industrial history, American entrepreneurship, and the story behind one of the nation’s first planned manufacturing centers. This edition is suited for anyone curious about the origins of Lowell and the early days of the cotton industry in the United States.