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Before there were cotton mills and factory girls in Chicopee, the potential for water power created by the unique location of the Chicopee River and the Chicopee Falls attracted wealthy investors from Boston to the agricultural village community of…

The most advanced cotton machinery available at the time, automatic Draper Looms were used at Dwight Mills.

Map of Cabotville circa 1850's. Dwight Mills, Perkins Mills, and dozens of boarding house are visable.

Cabotville taken from an old engraving. In it is visable the Chicopee Textile Mills and boarding houses.

Boarding houses were run by matrons who strictly enforced the rules of the house including a 10pm curfew, temperance, and weekly church attendance. Mill girls were charged approximately $1.25 per week to live in overcrowded boarding houses with as…