L.M.A. Company Houses
By: Tim D., Robbie S., Jason L. and
Christian M.
Who built the company houses for the mill workers and why?
Where were they built?
When were they built?
Hubbard Street, early 1900's Ludlow Manufacturing Associates |
Hubbard Street today
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In our group we analyzed the Ludlow Manufacturing Association’s housing for mill workers. Our primary sources were photos of mill houses. By 1900, Ludlow Manufacturing Company had built about one hundred and fifty houses to add to the sixteen houses they had bought from the mill owners before them. New streets were made and more houses were built as the L.M.A. expanded. By 1914, L.M.A. owned two large apartment blocks and 434 single and duplex style houses. The L.M.A. rented houses to their employees, depending on how important that employee was. For example, homes around the Hubbard Memorial Library and East Street Park were held for the most important people in the mills. The upper class workers, office workers, and skilled help lived in the area by Center Street, Howard Street, upper Whitney Street, and Hubbard Street. Immigrants that moved into Ludlow from foreign countries (usually from Portugal or Poland) were mostly assigned to homes by East Street, Lower Whitney Street, Windsor Street, Franklin Street, and State Street. Mostly the houses were built the same way because it was easier, faster, and cheaper. However, in the 1930’s, almost all the mill houses were sold to private owners.
Duke Street, early 1900's Ludlow Manufacturing Associates
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Duke Street today
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By looking at the company houses, we can tell that the L.M.A. was wealthy enough to build houses, nice enough to build their workers’ homes, and wanted to make sure their workers were on time for work. Based on the new pictures we can tell that people still live in these houses today and they’re still an important part of town.