Mrs Clarke Lace School Newburyport MA New England Lace Co

The New England Lace Manufacturing Company’s factory on High Street was purchased by Joseph Ross in the middle of the 19th Century. The converted building was known as the “Ross Mansion.” It was torn down in 1930 and was replaced by the brick home presently at that location. Photo from Stories of Ipswich Read More from Gordon Harris Joseph Ross, Ipswich bridge builder

From Saturday, April 10, 1869 Cape Ann Light and Gloucester Telegraph (Gloucester, Massachusetts)

From Boston, October 26 Exhibition of Manufactures Wednesday, November 1, 1826  National Aegis (Worcester, Massachusetts)

From The Upholsterer, Volume 51
In 1833 the New England lace factory at Newburyport, Mass, was organized with a capital of $150,000, but suspended operations four or five years after. These were the beginnings of the industry. There are no means of discovering the record of all the experiments.
From John J. Currier History of Newburyport:
In 1827, the New England Lace Company established a school in Newburyport for the purpose of instructing young ladies in the art of working lace. This school was under the supervision of Mrs. Clarke of Ipswich, and pupils were requested to apply to her for admission, "at the upper door to the brick store, east corner of Market Street."2 Subsequently, the store was converted into a factory for the manufacture of woolen yarn and cotton batting.

At about two o'clock, Sunday morning, November 26, 1837, the factory was discovered to be on fire. The machinery and the stock of manufactured goods on hand were destroyed, but the building was saved. A card of thanks, addressed to the firemen, and signed by Edmund Bartlet, was published in the Newburyport Herald on the twenty-eighth day of November following. William Bartlet, in his will, proved February 16, 1841, gave to his son Edmund Bartlet The house and land on which he now lives with all the buildings on Market street in Newburyport .... with all the fixtures, machinery and furniture in the steam mill, attached to the house, which I value to the sum of $38,000. dollars, to be held in trust for him by my executors [Ebenezer Wheelwright, Samuel Farrar, John Porter and Charles Brockway].

History of Newburyport, Euphemia Vale Blake
"In 1827, Edmund Bartlett, Esq., established a lace school, which contained at one time ninety pupils, who were first instructed in working lace, and then employed in its production, — a very opportune enterprise, when so few sources were open to female labor. While the style of lace wrought continued in fashion, this employment went far towards supporting many indigent families."

According to Textiles in Early New England: Design, Production and Consumption by Peter Benes quoting Sarah Smith Emery: "Mrs. Clarke was "a lady, who has a perfect knowledge of every thing pertaining to the art" and noted, In 1827 a school for instruction in working lace was opened, and for a time, of an afternoon, scarcely a young girl could be seen without a lace hoop or frame in her hand. Very elegant veils wrought in frames supported by a stand, were worked. For a period this lace business continued quite remunerative."