Laceweaving in America: A new opportunity
View Larger MapThe Wilkes-Barre Lace Manufacturing Company was located at 36 Courtright St. in North Wilkes-Barre, down near the river. The Company was founded in 1886 and grew to be the largest in the country.
Coal Strike Sympathies
In 1902 there was a strike by the coal miners in the Wyoming Valley region. It was discovered by the workers at the lace mill that 5 girls working there had coal miners crossing the lines. The workers at the lace mill refused to work with these women and they refused to quit, so the mill was closed down in sympathy with the striking coal miners. There were about 1000 workers affected by this work stoppage.
Family Business
Thomas' son Adam was the CEO of the company in 1948 before it closed for good. Eventually the company closed and was left to nature. In 2007 there was a serious fire in one of the larger buildings on the site. In 2010 the unsightly ruins of the mill were torn down and 31 residential homes were planned for the 12 acre site.