Kirkland, Washington Woolen Mill collection
Collection — Folder: S445
Identifier: S0445
Scope and Contents
This collection includes a typed, carbon copy from Alfred L. Lomax in Eugene, Oregon ranging from circa 1891 to 1933 regarding Kirkland Woolen Mill.
Dates
- circa 1891-1933
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Administrative History
The Kirkland, Washington Woolen Mill began as a woolen mill in Columbia City, Indiana owned by Thomas E. Eyanson, who started as one of five stockholders in 1881 and was Secretary and Superintendent. In 1891, he dismantled it and moved it to Kirkland, Washington (State) on Lake Washington, after being persuaded by Peter Kirk, a wealthy Englishman, that the new location would be better for production and finances.
Kirk had platted Kirkland in 1886 as the first woolen mill in Washington, beginning operation in 1892. By 1894 the mill employed 50 people, Eyanson was President, and his son Howard W. Eyanson was Secretary. On March 31, 1898 the operation was incorporated as the Seattle Woolen Mill, with the same address, 119 First Ave., for it and for the Seattle Woolen Manufacturing Company. They were now focused on selling to the goldrush market in Alaska. On November 21, 1904 the Seattle Woolen Manufacturing Company was incorporated by C.L. Hibbard, F.C. Cooper, and C.F. Lyons. The Seattle Woolen Company was reincorporated on January 25, 1906 by the Eyansons and John Easton, Associates. On August 1, 1912, the mill was reincorporated as Matzen Woolen Mills with George Matzen and others as owners.
During World War I, with increased sales due to military contracts, the mill employed 250 people on 36 looms with a monthly payroll of $25,000. A fire in 1924 interrupted operations but a new building was soon erected. Due to financial difficulties, the plant closed in 1926-1927 and was offered for sheriff's sale. A holding company, the Puget Sound Woolen Company, was organized to save the equities of the owners. Reese Brown bought the mill in 1929 and hired a Scotch superintendent with experience running woolen mills. A retail outlet was built, run by the National Supply Company.
After Mr. Brown's death in 1933, the equipment, valued at $60,000, was sold to various woolen mills in Oregon, including the Pendleton, Portland and Eugene woolen mills. The empty building burned to the ground not long afterwards.
Information found within the collection.
Goodspeed, Weston A. and Charles Blanchard. Counties of Whitely and Noble: Historical and biographical. Chicago:F.A. Battey & Co., 1882: p. 111. I977.201 W594gb 1970
"Kirkland's rich history". Kirkland Historical Society. Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://kirklandheritage.org/research-sources/kirkland-history/
"Kirkland Woolen Mills". Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlseastside/id/48
"Finishing machinery at Kirkland woolen mill". Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/5131
Kirk had platted Kirkland in 1886 as the first woolen mill in Washington, beginning operation in 1892. By 1894 the mill employed 50 people, Eyanson was President, and his son Howard W. Eyanson was Secretary. On March 31, 1898 the operation was incorporated as the Seattle Woolen Mill, with the same address, 119 First Ave., for it and for the Seattle Woolen Manufacturing Company. They were now focused on selling to the goldrush market in Alaska. On November 21, 1904 the Seattle Woolen Manufacturing Company was incorporated by C.L. Hibbard, F.C. Cooper, and C.F. Lyons. The Seattle Woolen Company was reincorporated on January 25, 1906 by the Eyansons and John Easton, Associates. On August 1, 1912, the mill was reincorporated as Matzen Woolen Mills with George Matzen and others as owners.
During World War I, with increased sales due to military contracts, the mill employed 250 people on 36 looms with a monthly payroll of $25,000. A fire in 1924 interrupted operations but a new building was soon erected. Due to financial difficulties, the plant closed in 1926-1927 and was offered for sheriff's sale. A holding company, the Puget Sound Woolen Company, was organized to save the equities of the owners. Reese Brown bought the mill in 1929 and hired a Scotch superintendent with experience running woolen mills. A retail outlet was built, run by the National Supply Company.
After Mr. Brown's death in 1933, the equipment, valued at $60,000, was sold to various woolen mills in Oregon, including the Pendleton, Portland and Eugene woolen mills. The empty building burned to the ground not long afterwards.
Information found within the collection.
Goodspeed, Weston A. and Charles Blanchard. Counties of Whitely and Noble: Historical and biographical. Chicago:F.A. Battey & Co., 1882: p. 111. I977.201 W594gb 1970
"Kirkland's rich history". Kirkland Historical Society. Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://kirklandheritage.org/research-sources/kirkland-history/
"Kirkland Woolen Mills". Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlseastside/id/48
"Finishing machinery at Kirkland woolen mill". Retrieved 2014/07/09. http://digitalcollections.lib.washington.edu/cdm/ref/collection/imlsmohai/id/5131
Extent
0.01 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged chronologically.
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Alfred L. Lomax on 1969/12/29.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2014/07/09 by Edythe Huffman. EAD finding aid created 2014/07/09 by Edythe Huffman.
- Title
- Kirkland, Washington Woolen Mill collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
