The house that stands at 1 Elm Place today was built in 1770 by Colonel James Fletcher. He was a blacksmith, a patriot, and a man who married well. Fletcher was also part of the team that established the first cotton mill here. Throughout Whitinsville, there are many buildings with a connection to Fletcher’s family and particularly his descendents, including the forge, brick mill, stone mill, and large machine works complex that are all within close proximity to the homestead. However, this is one of only two buildings from the 1700s that still stand in town.
From this location, we can begin tracing the rise of manufacturing in Whitinsville. When we think of the Industrial Revolution, it can be tempting to imagine a quick change. But the modern system of manufacturing came into being over time. The growth that Fletcher and his family saw from within this home was incredible and expansive-but it was not rapid, or simultaneous. One of the people raised in this home could have scarcely guessed just how important she would be in reshaping this farming community. Continue learning about the development of Whitinsville, and the alliances built between a few local families, by visiting the Old Brick Mill complex, located across the street.
Blackstone River Valley National Historical Park
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service