Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville is surrounded by the affluent suburban sprawl that stretches for miles northwest of Chicago. Most of Carpentersville seems to have been disrupted by the enveloping sprawl. But in the center of town, on the Fox River, is this factory complex which looks to me like it belongs in New England. The factory complex was built in stages to house a number of enterprises all started by Angelo Carpenter in the second half of the 19th Century. There was a yarn mill, a weaving mill, a foundry and the Star Company which made agricultural equipment. I'm not sure which buildings housed which operations. But in the photo above one can see a low workshed that would have housed some metal working activity and the 3 and a half story structure in the center that looks like a spinning mill. The buildings on the riverside pictured below might have housed weaving or assembly work. All of the surviving buildings in the complex are being maintained in excellent condition by Otto Engineering company which makes control and communications equipment. Whatever commercial district Carpentersville might have had has been demolished. But a block and a half of 19th century commercial buildings survive in downtown West Dundee about a mile downstream on the Fox River from Carpentersville.

 

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville at the Encyclopedia of Chicago.

 

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville Illinois

Carpentersville Illinois

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