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Riverpoint Lace

Company Profile

Riverpoint Lace in West Warwick, Rhode Island, specializes in Raschel Lace and Leavers Lace for the apparel industry.

The Lippitt Manufacturing Co. was formed Nov. 9, 1808 by Christopher and Charles Lippitt, Benjamin Acorn, George Jackson, and Amass and William Mason. They built the mill along the banks of the north branch of the Pawtuxet River, which supplied the water power for the mill. The Lippitt Mill was constructed of wood because it was less expensive. A cupola containing a bell sat on the roof of the mill and it was used to summon the workers. The Lippitt Mill survived the hard economic times. The War of 1812 effected the closing of all the mills in Rhode Island in 1813, all except the Lippitt Mill and a small mill in Providence.

The Lippitt Mill was purchased by Benjamin Brayton and Robert Lippitt Knight in 1889. The Knight brothers invested a lot of money in the mill. They built a new dam on the river and began to manufacture twill, a cloth material. The mill was sold to Consolidated Textiles Corp. on Oct. 11, 1920 along with 14 mills. Two months later the textile corporation was forced into receivership.

On Dec. 8, 1925, the Lippitt Mill was purchased by Joseph Albert Hayes. The mill is currently owned by John E. Hayes, Jr. who is still active in the business, but day to day operations are run by John E. Hayes, III. John began working at Riverpoint Lace Works, Inc. when he was about 17 years old. He started out as a helper in the frame room during school breaks in 1977 learning and working his way through all the departments of the company and is now the Vice President. John has a genuine understanding of all aspects of the business, and remains on the cutting edge.

According to an account in the January 16, 2008 Providence Journal

The court-appointed receiver for Riverpoint Lace, which has operated in West Warwick, R.I. for more than 80 years, will be auctioned at 10:30 a.m. next Wednesday, at the plant site, 825 Main St., said receiver Theodore Orson, of the law firm of Orson and Brusini.

Website: http://www.riverpointlace.com/