Allen Knight Remington Papers (Ms.235)

Biographical Note

Allen K. Remington was born in Central Falls, RI on August 29, 1898. His father had been a physician in Central Falls Central Falls and Pawtucket, Rhode Island.His grandfather had been livery stable owner in Coventry.

Remington briefly attended Rhode Island State College (now URI) from September to June of 1917. He then transferred to the New Bedford Textile School. After his graduation in 1920, he worked for Cooley and Marvin in Boston as a Textile Engineer.

In 1922 he worked for J. and P. Coates (RI) in various capacities, culminating as Night Floor Supervisor until 1943 when he took the challenge of improving the Pittsfield Mill as Resident Manager. The mill, it was confessed to him by the treasurer Hervey Kent, been allowed to deteriorate due to benign neglect by the ownership of the Exeter Manufacture Company of which Pittsfield was a subsidiary. The Exeter Mill was seen as the profit maker and funds were funneled from the Pittsfield operation to Exeter. After working hard and with little resources, Remington managed the cotton mill (built in 1827) into a small profit. Although he improved management, training, and updated equipment, it was clear that the Pittsfield Mill would not be allowed to progress beyond those small advances without capital support. He left in 1945 for a position with Pequot and St. Croix Mills (Canadian Cottons, Ltd.) with a better salary and better support but corporate politics came into play. Remington retired from St. Croix. The Pittsfield Mill was closed in 1948. Remington retired after a long memorable career, recounted in lively Oral history interviews in 1974 with Pamela Kennedy as well as long informative letters supplementing his interviews, spending time between New Hampshire and Matlacha, Florida.

Together with his wife Elsie, they raised four children Allen Jr., John, June, and Carol.