Shortly before the American Woolen Company closed, most of its non-manufacturing real estate holdings were sold at auction.
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Great Auction of 1932 – Flyer Cover
(Original Flyer owned by Fred Libby – Photos courtesy of Wayne Libby)
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“Note: This sale has no connection whatever with the manufacturing policies of the American Woolen Company. The company has for some time pursued a policy of disposing of its dwellings and land, not required for manufacturing purposes, as buyers could be found. It has recently transferred all such property to the Textile Realty Company. This sale is part of the plan of the Textile Reality Company to liquidate its holdings as rapidly as circumstances will permit.” ~ Auction Flyer Cover Notation
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Many of the properties offered had been part of the May 2, 1916 purchase by the American Woolen Company of the former Linn Woolen Company. That purchase had included several of the numerous properties acquired by Archibald Linn before his death in 1889 including his Commercial Street residence. These were inherited by the Linn Manufacturing Company who in turn made many additional property purchases into the early 1900s. The American Woolen Company also purchased a few other properties after 1916 which were listed at this auction including the former Thomas A. Linn residence on Blake Street and a house & lot on Elm Street belonging to the late Henry C. Fuller.
The auction did not include the 2 main woolen mill buildings, manufacturing support buildings on the island property, the main office building on Commercial Street or the former Carding Mill on Hubbard Avenue. These were eventually purchased on December 11, 1934 by the citizen’s group Hartland Mills, Incorporated which had organized to bring a new industry to town. The 1934 auction would also include the sale of most of the properties “Reserved” in this auction as noted below.
Fred Libby’s Great Auction of 1932 Flyer
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An original Great Auction of 1932 Flyer in excellent condition was also donated to the historical society by the Griffith Family.
Fred Libby’s Great Auction of 1932 Flyer
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Great Auction of 1932 Flyer – With Fred Libby’s Original Buyer Notes
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On the back of the flyer, a map of the properties with further details was provided for potential buyers.
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Detailed Description & Lot Numbers of Properties to be Sold transcribed as Written Above
Buyer Notes by Fred Libby in 1932 | Location & Other Notes by Bruce A. Fowler
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Lots 1-8
1. NO. 44 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 79,800 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage. Having seven rooms, bath, toilet, hard pine floors, heater. (Purchased by Mrs. Bertha Corliss for $800) Later sold to Doris (Buker) Marr who sold to Harold Carson, Sr on January 11, 1943.
2. NOS. 40-43 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 15,200 square feet of land with two story frame four-family dwelling, having five rooms to each family, toilets, electricity. (Purchased by Charles F. Bean from Dover for $300) Sold to Carl Randlett on January 3, 1933. Former Greenville Jefferson Shaw residence, aka Maple Lane Farm, purchased by Linn Woolen Company in 1898 as residence for Robert W. Linn, Sr. Later known as Century House.
3. NOS. 45-46 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 15,400 square feet of land with two story frame two-family dwelling having seven rooms to each family, bath, heater. (Purchased by Elmer Burton for $800) Sold to Lloyd Cookson, Sr in January of 1933.
4. NO. 47 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 14,100 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage, having seven rooms, bath, toilet, heater. (Purchased by George E. Merrow for $975)
5. NO. 20 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 19,000 square feet of land with one and one-half story frame cottage having seven rooms, shed and barn. (Purchased by J. Howard Haley for $500) Former James Leadbetter Homestead purchased in 1870s by Archibald Linn.
6. TRACT OF LAND: (Commercial Street) Approximately 3.7 acres of land. With framed 4 car garage. (Purchased by Frank Withee for $100) Purchased by Carl Randlett in January of 1933. Originally part of Greenville J. Shaw’s Maple Lane Farm.
7. NO. 19 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 3,100 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage having five rooms with shed attached. (Purchased by William Brawn for $200)
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Lots 8-12
8. NO. 18 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 9,700 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage having six rooms, also barn in rear.
(Purchased by Miss Cora Davis for $750) She sold immediately after to Carl Randlett
9. NO. 33 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 7,290 square feet of land with two-story frame cottage, having nine rooms with electricity, bath, toilet, furnace heat. (Purchased by Elmer Burton for $675) Former residence of Archibald & Grace Linn.
10. BUILDING LOT: (Commercial Street) Approximately 2,600 square feet of land. See auction plot. (Reserved) Purchased by Elmer Burton at the December 11, 1934 Auction. Former property of Archibald Linn residence.
11. NOS. 5-6-7-8 COMMERCIAL STREET: Approximately 2,060 square feet of land with two-story frame building having two stories and two offices. (Purchased by Mr. Shandling from out of town for $1,450) He sold immediately after to J. Howard Haley & Dr. Charles E. Norcross. Built by Archibald Linn in 1888.
12. NOS. 16-17 COMMERCIAL STREET AND REAR NOS. 10-11-12-13: Approximately 2.2 acres of land with one and one-half-story frame two-family dwelling having five rooms each and two-story four-family dwelling having five rooms each, also framed sheds. (Purchased by Clair Currie for $100 & $675) Formally purchased by Archibald Linn.
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Lots 13-19
Note: The Hubbard Avenue properties were incorrectly listed as Mill Street in the auction flyer.
13. NO. 24 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,100 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage. Having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Purchased by William B. Steeves for $800) Built by American Woolen Company after 1917.
14. MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Building Lot. Approximately 5,360 square feet of land. (No Buyer noted) Later purchased by Carl Randlett.
15. NO. 25 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,800 square feet of land with one and on-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Purchased by Mary Holmes for $675) Built by Linn Woolen Company in early 1900s.
16. NO. 26 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 5,100 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet. (Purchased by Ernest Seekins for $600) Built by Linn Woolen Company in early 1900s.
17 & 17A. NO. 27 MILL STREET: (Hubbard Avenue) Approximately 16,600 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having six rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, also frame garage. (Purchased by Millard & Myrtle (Russell) Blake for $725 plus $100 extra for garage at 17A) Following Myrtle’s death in 1934, Millard sold to Bert Lovely later that same year. Built by Linn Woolen Company in early 1900s.
18. NO. 37 MAIN STREET: Approximately 14,700 square feet of land with two-and one-half-story frame two family dwelling, having six rooms to each family, electricity, toilets. (Purchased by Alton Leadbetter for $725) This house was formally a store block located on the island before being moved in 1917 by the American Woolen Company to make way for a new boiler room.
19. NO. 32 MAIN STREET: Approximately 21,000 square feet of land with one and one-half story frame cottage having five rooms, also large barn. (Purchased by Asa Ladd for $450) Purchased from Miss Caroline Prescott by the Linn Woolen Company in 1902.
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Lots 20 & 21
20. NO. 48 PITTSFIELD AVENUE (Paymaster’s House): Approximately 22,800 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage, having seven rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, furnace heat with barn attached. (Reserved) Purchased by Harry Goodrich of Palmyra for $925 at the December 11, 1934 Auction. It had been the residence of Howard D. Jamieson who was Paymaster for the American Woolen Company. His younger brother Raymond A. Jamieson also resided there in 1930 and was the Assistant Paymaster.
21. NO. 39 ELM STREET: Approximately 82,800 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage. having eight rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, hot water heat with barn attached. (Purchased by John Scott for Ellard Hebb for $1,050) This house & property was part of a larger lot previously owned by Henry C. Fuller who deeded it to his wife Mary (Linn) Fuller in 1902. Mary sold the house and this part of the property to the American Woolen Company in 1919.
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Lot 22
22. NO. 36 ACADEMY STREET (Agent’s House): Approximately 14,600 square feet of land with two and one-half-story frame dwelling, having twelve rooms, electricity, bath, toilet, hardwood floors, hot water heat with barn attached. (Reserved) Former Thomas A. Linn house at the corner of Blake Street not Seekins Street. His widow Clara (Osborne) Linn sold the house & property to the American Woolen Company in 1916 which used it as the residence of its local agent, Thomas Thomas. Purchased by H. B. Hilton of Wells for $1625 at the December 11, 1934 Auction.
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Lots 23-27
23. BILLINGS STREET: (North Street) Approximately 34,000 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame two-family dwelling having seven rooms to each family, electricity, baths, also frame barn. (Purchased by Thomas Randlett for $350) Part of the original Billings Tannery lot bought by Greenville Jefferson Shaw in 1867 then sold to Linn Woolen Company in 1898.
24. BUILDING LOT: (North Street) Approximately 6,900 square feet of land. See auction plot. (Purchased by Frank Withee) Part of the original Billings Tannery lot bought by Greenville Jefferson Shaw in 1867 then sold to Linn Woolen Company in 1898.
25. NOS. 21-22 BILLINGS STREET: (North Street) Approximately 19,400 square feet of land with one and one-half-story frame cottage having seven rooms with barn attached. (Purchased by Mrs. Earl (Lola) Stanhope for $375) Original homestead of Josiah Billings bought by Greenville Jefferson Shaw in 1867 then sold to Linn Woolen Company in 1898.
26. NO. 49 WEBB STREET: (Moore Street) Approximately 8,600 square feet of land with two story frame cottage having seven rooms, bath, electricity with barn attached. (Purchased by Charles Wilford Mills for $325)
27. LAND & BUILDING: (Moore Street) Approximately 1.6 acres of land with Factory Building thereon. Detailed description will be available at time of sale. (Reserved) Purchased by Crossman & Sons, Inc. at the December 11, 1934 Auction for $325 then sold soon after to Ivar Pearson. Former Walter H. Moore Sash & Blind Woodworking Mill which the Linn Woolen Company purchased a 50% business interest from Walter in 1900.
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