Hills Hat Factory Timeline

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 rebuilt

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

1905-
-Women workers 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

Timeline thanks to 
Jones Library Chronology

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