Theodore Joseph Mattmann and Charles Coelestin Mattmann emigrated from Switzerland in the late 19th century. Merchants by trade, the brothers spent the first few years after their arrival in the U.S. trying their hands at one commodity and then another.
Charles Mattmann finally achieved success working as a silk manufacturer for the Astoria Silk Mills in Astoria, Queens, New York. Charles’ son, who was also named Charles, later followed him into the business and became secretary, treasurer, and manager of the company.
Incorporated in 1888, the silk mill manufactured of velvets, plushes, and piece dyed silks and had over 350 looms and 150 employees. By 1920, the demand for the products of Astoria Silk Works had become so high that an expansion of the company was imminent.
An additional factory location was sought in the surrounding area of south-eastern New York and the West Point Foundry in Cold Springs, Putnam, New York became the company’s newest acquisition. Built in 1817, the foundry had originally been built as an iron casting business for ordnance and domestic production.
Like most large factories of the day, the Astoria Silk Works experienced occasional struggles between the management and the laborers which generally resulted in the laborers choosing to strike. Two of these occurrences have been documented in printed sources. The first lasted from November to December in 1893 [1]. The other, in 1897, received notice in The New York Times.
During its lifetime, the Astoria Silk Mills employed hundreds of people and supplied many more with needed commodities and products. From the dawn of Astoria's industrial revolution in the mid-1800s, weaving was always an important part of society and the economy. The Astoria Silk Works was part of this 150 year tradition that only recently ended in 2004 when the last of the Silk Mills announced that it was moving out of the area [2].
1. U.S. Committee of Finance. “Replies to Tariff Inquiries, Schedule L, Silk and Manufactures Of.” Bulletin, Issue 54, Part 1, Number 6255. Washington: 1894.
2. “Queens Timeline.” Greater Astoria Historical Society. March 1894.
