Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1923-08-31
SELL LOCAL MILLS
TO PROVIDENCE MEN
Nightingale-Morse Property
Passes To New Owners
On Sept. ~
Marks Breaking Up Of ''Fsnily Mills
Operated Saeeessfuily For Years

Though the Nizhtingale-AorSe Mills
Inc, were sold last Saturday 20 b.
{ Dexter Aldrieh and Edward Raddfng
Of Providence, X. l., for a reported
price Of 1926, 900. the property Il
still on the market. The new owners
purchased for investment and stats
unless they dispose Of their holdings
a. a whole IN 30 days, they viii divide
the property and sell Il in parcels %
suit purchasers. The deal was handled
By the real estate firm Of g. 1. and
II. J. Gross Of Providence and the
property transferred included the
powhAtan mill, the Morse MIL. ossea.
machinery, stock and other possess
ions u the company
Sale Interests Putnam
Putnam people were not surprised
upon learning Of the sale, for Il vas
matter Of common knowledge that the
deal was beng negotiated. Two
weeks ago The Patriot told the story
first II the pending sale Because
Putnam people and stores are 50 ef-
fected By the successful operation Of
these mill properties, the develop
hnents ef the immediate future, cul-
rninating in their eyentfgl transfer 20
new owners who will undoubtedly
operate them, will be watched with IN
terest here.
The transfer Of this important mill
property marks the final breaking up
Of an industry that has meant much 70
Putnam and which had been operated
successfully for years by members Of
the Morse and Nightingale families.
Il was in 1885 that Milton Morse
started the erection Of the Morse Mill
on Church street. a stone structure Of
five stories, 1863 feet by 6s feet. NF.
Morse was killed IN the mill yard
when he was fatally crushed BY a new
boiler falling upon him. His son
George took up the management OF
the property and continued until his
son Augustus Morse assumed the sup
erintendency Of the property.
George Nightingale erected his mills
in 1855. one stone structure and one
brick mill.
In 1872 the Morse and Nightingale
concerns combined and erected the
Powhatan mill on Providence street,
a brick mill and a stone mill. These
two factories were sold some months
ago to the Adams Mfg Co Il vas
in 1913 that the Nightingale Morse
Mills, Inc. was created with a capt.
talizatiou Of 5000. 000 Al this time
Augustus Morse was succeeded as
general manager Of all the mills by F.
r. Richmond. treasurer Of the Cromp
ION company Mr. Richmond Is the
son-in-law Of George Nightingale #
who is the son Of the
founder Of the Nightingale mills
John X. H. Nightingale. another
s8n. also Providence resident, be
came treasurer 81 the neN corporation
and his son John X II. Nightingale,
Jr.. was elected assistant treasurer
These executives viii continue -
operate the mills until September p.
with George 1 Gardner as agent
On the 27th It IS reported the sale
agreement STIMULATES. the present
owners viii have wound up their af
fairs and will be IN readiness for the
new owners, whoever they may be,
10 take charge
The mill properties carry on spin
ming operations, having total Of so
GOO spindles Ia the Morse mill there
are $50 looms besides carding and
spinning machinery In the Powhat-
tan plant are 456 looms Of Whiting
1872 type with Hopedale attach
ments. installed in 1918 and 1919.
The mill has been operating 55
hours a week with about $50 employ
ees. when business was normal. the
hours were the same. but between
ais and 400 people were employed
The transfer Of the mill property
not snly includes the manufacturing
Office and storage buildings, but the
q tenements owned by the company
in Morse Village. so called and else
where adjacent to the mill structure