Introduction

Union Mills is a physical representation of the industrial history of Catskill, New York State and the United States. The earliest recorded buildings on this site date back to the early 1800's and the development mirrors the ebb and flow of the industrial revolution. The drawing to the right (Fig 1.) shows Union Mills in 1854. The original stone footings are still visible in the basement areas of the current building.

By the Civil War the buildings had expanded and supplied the Union Army with uniforms through the Harris Knitting Co - reference to these buildings is made in "The History of Greene County” published in 1884. It describes the site as occupied by a knitting mill owned by Samuel Harris in 1864. These main buildings are shown on the plan maps from the Sanbourne library of 1884. The building that stands today can be seen in an 1889 drawing (Fig 2.)

Clearly visible from (Fig 2 - the enlargement of an 1889 drawing at right), is the chimney stack for the Corless Engine that powered the mills, as well as the buildings built to accommodate the expansion.

By 1868, with investment from Benjamin Howland the company continued at the forefront of technology and was renamed the Steam Woolen Company. The buildings are referred to in "The History of Greene County" for 1868. The expansion continued through 1881 with a new dye house and store houses. By this time the Steam Woolen Co. had over 175 employees and used over 400 000 pounds of raw materials annually. The Corless Steam Engine of 160 horse power ran the mills. By 1889 the mills were in the hands of W.S.C. Wiley who renamed it the Katterskill Hosiery Mills and under that name it continued until 1913 when they were declared bankrupt. It was during this time that the mills expanded to cover the entire site. (Fig 3)

The mills were then renamed Union Mills and they began their financial decline. The Sandbourne Plans clearly show a gradual leveling of buildings as the technology and times surpassed the glory days of the Steam Woolen Company. Following a fire in the local High School on March 8th, 1935, the decision was made to remodel the first floor of Union Mills as a temporary High School. By that point the mills had fallen into a state of disrepair and the building needed to be cleaned, partitions put in and the boilers repaired. Union Mills was then was sold to the Orens family as a furniture warehouse, with its show rooms on Main Street. Union Mills ending its days, first as a furniture warehouse and restaurant and finally as a storage site, the interior gutted and almost demolished. .

The hand written note on photograph (Fig. 4) read "Used as temp. H. School after High School burned, March 8, 1935"

Today Union Mills has a unique chance to revitalize an overlooked area of Catskill, providing work and training for local tradesmen as well as a future for the mills. Union Mills are being restored, not just renovated, using the highest levels of environmental and historical care.

Union Mills project is historically registered and we hope to exceed Leeds recommendations. Historical registration: 90NR00548, East Side Historical District.

J.A. Cunliffe
BSc Hons. Archaeology
2 February 2007