Statistics of the Industry of Massachusetts
for 1838, 1846, 1855, and 1865
By: Dan C., Bill D., Alex G., Nico F.
How did industry in Ludlow change?
Why did the industry change?
What are palm leaf hats and how were they made?
Industry in Ludlow in 1838
Statistics of the Industry of Massachusetts
Ludlow’s industry changed over time.We looked at changes in Ludlow from the Statistics of the Industry of Massachusetts for the years of 1838, 1846, 1855, and 1865.For example, in 1838 there were two cotton mills with 10,000 spindles.This was at the height of the Springfield Manufacturing Company.This declined to one cotton mill and 8,052 spindles in the year of 1846.The industry continued to decline in 1855.Though there was still one cotton mill, the spindles dropped to 3,520 spindles.Then in 1865, there was one more cotton mill, which made a total of two cotton mills and 3,840 spindles.
As the industry changed, so did the number of employees.For example, there were 200 female employees and 88 male employees in the mills in 1838.During the next 27 years, the employees decreased to 34 male and 36 female employees in 1865.The reason for this change in the industry is because in 1848, the Springfield Manufacturing Company went bankrupt.
Another interesting thing we learned about Ludlow’s history was that they produced palm leaf hats.The palm leaves that the hats were made out of were imported from Cuba.Palm leaf hats were very popular in the early 1800’s and Ludlow women helped produce them.For example, in 1838 Ludlow made 3,000 palm leaf hats.Palm leaf hats were made by women and girls as young as four years old.Merchants then sold them in New York, Boston, and other big cities for $.25-$2 each.In 1846, Ludlow made 8,518 palm leaf hats.Then, in 1855 and 1865 there were no palm leaf hats manufactured in Ludlow.Palm leaf hats must have become less popular.
From looking at Ludlow’s statistics from these years, we can see that the Springfield Manufacturing Company brought industry and workers to Ludlow.As the Springfield Manufacturing Company declined, so did Ludlow’s industry.Though the Ludlow Manufacturing Company would improve industry again in 1868, the Springfield Manufacturing Company started the industrial growth in Ludlow.