Austin Dunham Jr., son of the Willimantic Linen Company founder, hires the progressive-minded William Barrows at the height of the company's success. Barrows begins his work as Assistant Treasurer in Hartford.
A.C. Dunham instructs William Barrows to purchase Charles Brush's Electric Arclight System for Mill Number Two. Several weeks later, Barrows and Dunham demonstrate the arc lighting system to dignitaries from all over the United States.
William Barrows opens the Willimantic Linen Company store, hoping to capitalize on the manufacturer's large workforce. Through tickets, vouchers, and tokens, mill workers are virtually forced to shop at the establishment.
The Dunham Hall Library opens. Located at the top floor of the company store, the space contains a well stocked library of over 600 volumes, and reading rooms. The Library hosts various cultural and social programs such as educational lectures,…
Elisha Johnson, partner of Origen Hall, convinces the Willimantic Linen Company to absorb the Willington Thread Company. The Willimantic Linen Company gains Willington's proprietary glazed three-cord thread and a new granite mill, which becomes known…
Mill No. 4 is the largest single story mill in the world at the time and one of the first to use electric lighting. Forty of the 75 men digging the mill's foundation go on strike and leave the site after Barrows gives a raise only to Swedish workers.
The Willimantic Linen Company's Mill No. 2 is a four story gothic thread mill and dominates the other mills in Willimantic. Construction begins in 1863, but is suspended due to the winter weather. It is finished in late 1864.
