North Star Lofts
This turn-of-the-century blanket factory has been
renovated into thirty-six loft condominiums featuring
exposed brick walls, eleven foot ceilings, and gorgeous
custom-built residences. The first of five boutique loft
buildings developed by Brighton Development in the Mill
District, North Star is a riverfront landmark.

The Story Behind the North Star Woolen Mill . . .
From Linda Koutsky, Downtown Journal "The Lunchtime Tourist"

The North Star Woolen Mill was established in 1864 and operated until 1949. Today, the building is home to 36 lofts.

Althoughthe Mill District was originally known for wheat and flour, blankets and lumber were also manufactured along these banks of the Mississippi. As did many East coast textile mills, North Star used waterpower to run the machinery that spun wool fibers into yarn and operated looms.

North Star became a national leader in finely woven blankets sold under brand names such as Falls of St. Anthony, Red River, and Cardinal. Marshall Field's was a major customer and at one time owned a quarter of the business. North Star also had an exclusive contract to provide blankets for Pullman Railroad sleeping cars.

Construction of the mills' many buildings began in 1864. The mill employed over 60 people and had 17 looms. Within 10 years, employees numbered 130 - two-thirds being women.

By 1920, North Star Woolen Company was the top manufacturer of wool blankets in America. Nearly 300 employees transformed two million pounds of wool a year into blankets. Large quantities were sold to the government and Navy as well as to hotels, steamships, and airlines.

Most of the wool came from Minnesota and Wisconsin, and then, beginning in the 1930s, cashmere was brought in from Tibet, merino from Australia, mohair from Turkey, and alpaca from Peru.

The company began purchasing mills in Ohio and Rhode Island and eventually closed the Minneapolis mill in 1949.
The North Star Wooolen Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. The loft conversion was awarded a preservation award in 2000.

After the 1930s, as Minneapolis lost its lead in the milling industry, most of the mills shut down one by one.
Many buildings were demolished or simply vacated and left to decay and vandalism.  Fortunately, North Star
was designated a National Historic Landmark, preventing inevitable demolition. Restoration of the Mill
commenced in 1996 and the first new residents arrived in 1999.  Key architectural features have been
preserved creating dramatic interior features for the exclusive loft residences now housed there.