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Code’s Mill, 53 Herriott St. The building was constructed in 1842 and until 1882 housed William Kilpatrick’s Tannery. In 1882 T.A. Code purchased the mill and established the “Perth Custom Woolen Mill”. In 1884 the Tay Knitting Mills were started and the first Code socks were made. By 1887 the mill employed 65 people. In 1894 a stone addition was built on the Wilson Street side. In 1895 the mill started producing sweaters. “The building is in the shape of the letter F. The main factory building 100x32 feet, 2 stories with a mansard roof in the centre…The entire mill is very neat and tidy and runs the entire year with employment given to 60 hands…The quality produced is of the best grade, his trade extends from Halifax to Vancouver and all intermediate points. Mr. Code is well respected in the community and has served two terms as Mayor of the town, by acclamation. (ex. 1896 Perth Expositor Illustrated Trade Edition). In 1903 a third storey was added to the building. In 1918 the mill received an army order for 300,000 pair of socks. In 1959 the knitting mill was closed and employees transferred to the felt division, which ran until the late 1990’s. In 1990 Commonwealth Historic Research Management Conservation Consultants opened offices in Code’s Mill and in 2000, the Code’s Mill complex of stores, restaurants, a banquet hall and atrium, was opened.
Photograph, c1900 from the
archives of the Perth Museum |