History

(Taken from ProvPlan.org) The structure that dominates this mill complex’s landscape is a five-story brick textile mill with a tall, square, central stair-and-freight that tapers to an octagonal opening lantern capped by a low, copper-clad, ogee dome. There was a four-story addition made to the west of the main building between 1874 and 1875. An office was added to the southwest part of the main building in the 1880s. This office was later supplanted by a two-story, brick, Romanesque office. North of the main building in the mill yard are numerous outbuildings including: blacksmith shops, picker, engine, and boiler houses, and a circular, brick gasometer.

The Wanskuck Company was founded in 1862 by Jesse Metcalf, Henry J. Steere, and Stephen J. Olney to manufacture woolens and worsted clothes. This mill was built partly because of the scarcity of cotton cloth in the North during the Civil War. Because of the mills’ rapid success, expansions were made by Henry Steere on Wild Street in 1884 and on Douglas Avenue by the company in 1893. They were named Steere Mills and Geneva Mills. The company expanded its operations outside of Providence, building both Mohegan and Oakland Mills.

Mill workers’ housing was also constructed by the company to house its many employees. A social hall (Wanskuck Hall) was also built on 754 Branch Avenue for the workers enjoyment. The Metcalf family eventually came to dominate the company. Like so many other mills the company closed during the 1950s (Woodward 1986:150; RIHPHC data sheets; National Register nomination). Now the buildings hold a number of manufacturing companies, including a UStore It facility and Providence Cycle.

Anecdotes

John Cairns   In the 1940’s my father was the accountant for the mill and we lived in the superintendent’s house behind the mill on Woodward Road. It was a beautiful old Victorian place and we played badminton on the front lawn and had cook outs on the outdoor stone grill. The mill ran three shifts at the time. It was really a part of what was America’s vast industrial power manned largely in this case by European and French Canadian immigrants.

Antonia Dailey  My great-great grandfather Abraham Taylor came from England and worked as a weaver in the Wanskuck Mill; he lived in the mill village. My greatgrandfather Joseph F. Taylor worked as a jack spinner in the Wanskuck Mill. My grandfather Joseph E. Taylor worked as a loom fixer in the Wanskuck Mill. My great-uncle John Taylor was the foreman of the Wanskuck Mill. Other relations of mine also worked there.

A.M. Adrain  After we lost our rehearsal space, because of the fire at Riverside Mills in Olneyville, this was where we found a new space. We spent many a happy hour practicing in this old, empty but wecoming place. I was our rock and roll home and we loved it! A. M. Adrain “Cool Beverages”

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