Exhibit Showcases South Grafton Mills

The announces the opening of an extensive exhibit on the great textile mills of South Grafton.

The free exhibit opens from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the society museum at 1 Grafton Common.

“The Fisherville, Farnumsville, and Saundersville textile mills are central to the history and character of our town and to the industrial heritage of the Blackstone River Valley,” said Linda Casey, Grafton Historical Society president, in a prepared statement. “With this exhibit, we are preserving their very important legacy and giving our mills the place of honor which they deserve.”

The mill exhibit is the culmination of a project two years in the making. The central feature will be highly-detailed scale models of each of the three mills, created by Jean Deschenes.

Also on display will be historic mill artifacts; picture panels on the mills, the workers, the owners, and the Blackstone River and Canal; and complete histories of each mill.

 The era of the great textile mills of South Grafton lasted from the early 1800s to the mid 1900s. During those years, the mills provided employment for thousands of Polish, French-Canadian and other immigrants and produced millions of yards of cloth for a growing nation.

This project was funded by the John H. Chaffee Blackstone River Valley Heritage Corridor Commission.

The Grafton Historical Society Museum, located at One Grafton Common, houses an extensive permanent collection representing all aspects of Grafton’s rich history. The museum is open to the public on Sundays from 2 to 4 p.m. New members are always welcome.

For more information, call 508-508-839-0000 or drop by the museum.