Textile Production

Another important industry at work in Connecticut during World War One was the textile industry. Supplying clothes, blankets and other assorted cloth items for the war effort, Connecticut mills processed thousands of tons of wool to keep up with demands.

At the Hockanum Mills Company in Rockville, Connecticut they processed wool into 20oz Melton cloth to be used in heavy uniform jackets and blankets. Melton cloth is a very solid cloth great for wind and weather resistance, much needed on the Western front. Pictured here is the weaving department of the mill where the cloth would get its tight weave ensuring its durability and weather resistance. The next picture shows the dressing and spooling section of the factory where the cloth would be prepared for shipping. The pictures show a room empty of workers, but during a normal business day the factory would be bustling with workers using the machinery to manufacture Melton cloth.