The Fall River Iron Works was established in 1821 and many mills were built in Fall River on the Quequechan River in the following decades, eventually becoming the American Printing Company. Controlled by the Bordens of Lizzie borden fame. By At it's height the cloth-producing division of the company had a capacity of 485,288 ring spindles and 12,702 looms. The large mill complex was closed in 1934 and three years later was acquired by the Firestone Tire & Rubber Company. In 1973, a large fire destroyed the former Iron Works division mills.