WHITIN MILL RENOVATION

The Whitin empire began with a simple blacksmith’s forge in 1772 and grew into a textile machine manufacturer that dominated the industry in the United States and the world. At one point the Mill employed 5,600 people, more than half the population of the Northbridge community. The Whitin family, paternalistic and generous, gave its name to Whitinsville (the village that was formerly South Northbridge) and built many of the buildings still standing today, including the town hall, school and library.

The Mill itself is an icon of the region and a monument to the Industrial Revolution.

Alternatives first moved into the Mill in 1977, operating a sheltered workshop. It is currently being renovated into what Executive Director Dennis H. Rice calls “a new paradigm” in the integration of people with disabilities into the community through the creation of an inclusive community treasure. When the $9.1 million project is completed, it will include artisan space for glass-blowing and a blacksmith’s forge (harking back to the complex’s origins), Alternatives’ administrative headquarters, a restaurant, a performance and conference space, a riverside community plaza, retail stores, a living museum, and affordable apartments. The project, which will transform real estate capital into social capital for our community and the people we serve, will be completed in the summer of 2007.