James Whitin

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James Whitin was born and died in Northbridge, Worcester County, Massachusetts.

[edit] The Whitin Machine Works and Whitinsville

James Whitin was one of the sons of Paul C Whitin, who founded the Whitin Machine Works. James Whitin was an industrialist. He helped Paul C Whitin, John Whitin, and Paul Whitin, Jr. to establish the Whitin Machine Works and related industries on the banks of the Mumford River at South Northbridge in 1831. It grew into the largest manufacturer of textile machinery in the world until the business ceaseed operating in 1964. The village of South Northbridge became known as Whitinsville, a company town. It had worker houseing, a full gymnasium, commercial center, railroad and street cars, and all the amenities of a complete town. The town was virtually built by this same family.

[edit] Other nearby enterprises

James Whitin acquired other industries in nearby communities as he grew his company. The historic Blackstone Valley of Massachusetts and Rhode Island was the first industrialized region of the United States. James Whitin acquired a failed business at nearby Uxbridge, Massachusetts, about 2 miles distant, called the Crown and Eagle Mills, which was an architectural masterpiece. See also Roger Rogerson. It is known that Rogerson's ownership of the Crown and Eagle ended around 1837. The business had failed, and was acquired by James Whitin, and the Whitin Family, who continued to operate the mill as the Uxbridge Cotton Mills. See also Whitinsville, Massachusetts for more history references of the "Whitin Machine Works".^[1] The Whitin family continued to hold the Whitin Machine Works privately until the business ceased operating in the mid 1960's. See also Whitinsville, Massachusetts.

[edit] Notes

• Navin, Thomas (1969). The Whitin Machine Works since 1831: A textile machinery company in an industrial village; Harvard studies in business history. Russel and Russel.