Bates Mill, Lewiston, Maine, ca. 1900. Maine State Museum, 89.70.65.
Bates Mill, Lewiston, Maine, ca. 1900. Maine State Museum, 89.70.65.
Lewiston's Great Falls formed the inspiration and power for a booming textile industry. The canal shown here carried water from the Androscoggin River to power the Bates Mill, completed in 1852.
By 1890, the Bates mills had 58,392 spindles and 1,595 looms in operation. At the time of this postcard, the workers, a majority of whom were women, created fancy goods including dress goods, gingham and bedspreads.