Hills Hat Factory 
Basic History

• -Leonard M Hills arrives from Tolland CT, 1829
  -Opens dry goods store on East Street
  -Imports palm leaves from Cuba

• 1850s- 
  -Hills sets up mills in Factory Hollow, North Amherst
  -1858- Sells dry goods store to William Barrow
  -1859- Builds first factory building on Main St.

• 1860s-
  -Makes Shaker-style hoods and palm leaf hats
  -1863- Factory Hollow mills destroyed by flood

• 1870s-
  -1872- Leonard M Hills Dies; HD Fearing buys the factory
  -1877- Henry Hills builds new factory - east side of tracks

• 1880s-
  -Fire nearly destroys both factories
  -Both rebuild

• 1890s-
  -Peak years
  -Employees at both factories double since 1880
  -1892 - Fearing Co. sold to George Burnett & Son, NY

• 1905-
  -Women workers at the factory go on strike 
  -Without union support

• 1930s-
  -1935- Hills Co. goes out of business, so does Burnett
  -Competition from cheap imported hats
  -Change in style with invention of cars
  -Depression

Go to Hills Hat Factory Related Pictures

Abolition | The African American Experience in Amherst | Angeline | Events of the Times | Life in Amherst | The Hills Hat Factory | Henry Jackson | The Town Poor Farm | Zion Chapel

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