With Vermont being the center of sheep farming of the period, and Bennington being the closest town in Vermont to the Hudson River, this historic landmark was created. Woolen products were shipped south to New York and Philadelphia, giving the industry a huge boost.
This National Register property was erected in 1865 as The Bennington Woolen Mills, under Hunt, Tillinghast & Co., until 1872 when Hunt became sole proprietor. In 1874 Hunt sold the mill to S. S. & M. Fisher or New York. Under the corporate name of Bennington Woolen Co., the Fishers converted the mill to the production of overcoatings made from wool shoddy. Optimistic about their prospects, the Fishers expanded the enlarged the mill complex, added more machinery and constructed an expansive one story brick addition. By 1880, the firm had some 400 employees operating 144 looms and approximately 12,000 spindles to produce annually over one-half million yard of heavy overcoating. The Fishers' operation of the Big Mill lasted only a few years, and the mill was then closed for a period.

John S. Holden and George F. Leonard acquired the mill in 1889 and started the operation under the name of John S. Holden Manufacturing Co. Charles W. Leonard of Newtonville, MA joined the firm a year later, and from 1890 to 1909 the corporate name was the Holden-Leonard Co. By 1895 the mill was employing 300, and had achieved the position of being the largest industrial venture in Southwestern Vermont. The mill was producing fine wool dress fabrics, cloakings and cashmeres. Unprecedented expansion would soon follow, made possible in part by the demand for military uniform fabric during the First World War. Employment surged while the mill complex was being expanded. By 1920, some 800 persons worked here, a figure approaching historical maximum.

In June of 1939, the Holden-Leonard Co. Inc. sold the entire mill complex and related employees' housing to Joseph Benn Textiles, Inc. of North Providence, RI. Another firm took over the complex and started production of knitgoods under the name Bennington Mills. The company with its' employment of 150-200 only lasted a decade. The closure in 1949 brought to a conclusion more than 80 years of textile manufacturing in the Big Mill.

Subsequently, the Mill Complex has been occupied by a variety of light industrial enterprises. In 1951, the mill was subdivided and the larger portion (the Big Mill) was purchased by Ben-Mont Papers, Inc., the corporate successor to a local manufacturer of waxed paper and in later years, wrapping papers.

In 2000, Jon E. Goodrich, Entrepreneur and Local Businessman, started two separate corporations; Vermont Mill Properties and Benmont Mill Properties. Vt. Mill Properties purchased the South Wing of the previous Holden Leonard Mill from James Comi in 2000. Benmont Mill Properties purchased the center section (original construction) and the North Wing (previously Catamount Dyers) from VEDA, a State Organization which had taken the building over after SVDC filed bankruptcy in 2000.

The building had been inspected by the EPA, Private and Government Approved Organizations and Remidiating has been completed. This process has taken 10 years, but has been completed. The Mill was placed on the National Register in 1988. In 1990, much of the building was rehabilitated for new uses; renovations will be ongoing.

Situated on 12.5 acres, the mill houses over 25 tenants (employing over 225 people), ranging from manufacturing and retail space to a Racquetball and Fitness Club. Please browse through our gallery to see some of the stunning renovations that have taken place in the mill.

Click here to learn more about our tenants!

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