Klotz Throwing Company started constructing the mill in 1905 and began operation in 1907.  The word "throwing" comes from the Anglo-Saxon word "thrawn," which means "to twist," and describes the production of yarn from raw silk.

A Payroll Rating Sheet for Klots first operating month, April 1907, counts seventy-one mill hands for the month, with 34 winders, 16 tram doublers, 9 tram twisters, and a few each of reelers, lacers, bundlers, and bobbin boys. The highest paid was the winders' "forelady" who was paid S11.00 for 60 hours, with other foreladies paid $5.00 for 60 hours. The highest-paid hand was the Bundler at $4.50 for 60 hours.

In 1920 the mill had 359 employees.  At its peak prior to the Depression, Klots Throwing Company, with its New York office on Seventh Avenue, employed 6,000 workers in 14 mills generating sales of about S50 million.

A number of factors affected the future viability of the mill.  The Depression and World War II both negatively impacted the mill - production and profits decreased which limited the company's ability to upgrade equipment.  Though the company built an addition to the factory to manufacture Rayon the long-term impact took its toll. 

Declining orders, increased competition for workers, and labor difficulties, eventually led to the closure of the Lonaconing mill in 1957 following a labor strike.         
  

A skeleton crew of four employees remained on site for several years to maintain the building and equipment until it was determined the plant would never reopen.   

A Peak Inside 

This image was made looking into the mill through one of the many broken windows. 

The Factory Floor 

It was quite dark even on the second floor.  This was a nine second exposure.

Back in Time 

An iconic image showing a 1957 calendar hanging above a work area.

Gents 

This just made me chuckle.  The No Smoking sign was copyrighted in 1953.

Rusty Gold 

An oil can and a view of the complex machinery.

The Crayon Box 

An old box of marking crayons and some of the remaining spools of yarn. 

 Stacked

This is an image of the factory floor just outside the office.  It was bright on a sunny Sunday morning.

Spool Time

Carts filled with just some of the tens of thousands of spools in the mill.      

 To see more of my recent Lonaconing images click here.