Salem Jean Factory

Lee W. Sinclair (1836-1916), principal among the leading citizens of his time, was a Washington County businessman and owned a large woolen mill in Salem from 1866-1884.

The arrival of the mill created a local market for sheep farmers and at the height of production the mill employed 75-80 employees. Sinclair's massive three story factory, located on the same parcel as the former Armory, burned on December 5th 1883.

The Salem mill developed a kind of cloth which was sold to Levi's Company. Some contemporary advertisements refer to the business as the "Salem Jean Factory."