Mott Mill

The Mott Mill Building was constructed in 1852 by William P. Mott in Yonkers, New York. Mott was a carpenter and a builder from New York City. According to the 1850 census records Mott was 41 years old. William Mott and his wife Sarah had three children, who were all born in New York City. By the 1860s the family were living in Yonkers near the Mill Building.

Today, the Mott Mill Building has only slight differences from it original appearance. In 1852 the mill was three stories high with a basement on the front, south and north sides. The segmental arched windows had splayed stone arches on the front facade and brick arches on the side elevations. The paneled wood door at the front entrance of the building was replaced. At the entrance on the second story the words "MOTT MILL 1852" were inscribed in marble.

The 1906 mill addition abuts the 1852 building at the north end and the buildings are connected on the interior. The updated window bays are slightly inset, with perimeter piers reading as pilasters on the exterior reinforced concrete curtain walls. The large, 6 foot wide by 10 foot high windows contain two, 12/9 single-hung aluminum sash dating from 2002.

The mill is associated with the textile industry in Yonkers and for its association with the nationally known and locally significant Alexanders Smith Carpet Company. In 1889, the carpet giant Alexander Smith and Son acquired the small stone building and constructed two additional concrete buildings to the north of the old stone building. Alexander Smith and Son was one of the biggest carpet manufactures in the United States during World War II.

The architecture is an excellent and uncommon example of a mid-nineteenth century banked stone mill building. Furthermore, the 1906 reinforced concrete structure abutting the building is significant as an early and intact reinforced concrete industrial structure in Westchester County.

In the early 2000s the complex was converted into housing for the elderly. In 2004 the Mott Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

1. Williams, Gray. Jackson, Kenneth T.. Picturing Our Past National Register Sites in Westchester County. New York. 2003.
2. Rebic, Michael. Mott Mill. . Published January 1st 1984.
3. Yasinsac, Robert J.. Alexander Smith and Sons Carpet Company, HVR. January 1st 2006. Accessed August 12th 2020. http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/hvarch/smith1.html.
4. Yasinsac, Robert J.. Mott Mill Yonkers, New York, HVArchitecture. January 1st 2006. Accessed August 12th 2020. http://www.hudsonvalleyruins.org/yasinsac/hvarch/smith5.html.