The Faribault Woolen Mill is a living testament to American craftsmanship. Founded in 1865 on the banks of the Cannon River in Faribault, MN, the mill’s woolens are renowned for their quality and comfort. Carl H. Klemer created what was later named the Faribault Woolen Mill to be operated as a wool carding factory where they turned local wool into wool batting.  

The mill is over 150 years old; so old the original mill was horse-powered and was founded the same year that Abraham Lincoln died, and the Civil War ended. 

In 1872, the Mill began to experiment with other new materials and soon started producing cloth, flannel, and woolen blankets for use in homes or buggies.  

Considering that the Faribault Woolen Mill was founded right after the Civil War ended, the mill provided woolen blankets to pioneers heading west and comforted our troops through both World Wars. The mill supplied the American military with over 100,000 blankets in the color olive. This was the company’s first large-scale production, which led to larger quantities being produced. During the Second World War, Faribault Woolen Mill devoted their time to manufacturing more blankets and sleeping bags for the soldiers with the help of civilian volunteers who helped run the mill. 

In 1965, a fire broke out near the mill’s entrance. The company celebrated its one-hundredth anniversary shortly after and began to offer a new line of blankets and throws in new colors and designs. One hundred seventy-five employees strong, Faribault Woolen Mill was producing over half of the blankets made in America at the time.  

When the early 2000s rolled around, the mill experienced several challenging circumstances, causing it to shut its doors for the first time in its lifetime. Employees were forced to leave, and equipment was ready to be shipped overseas for sale. 

Fortunately for the mill, in 2011, the company returned with a new vision and the same values the company was built on. Although the company once had over 800 operating mills in the United States had slowly dropped to just 80 since 1886 when the company was founded, they are still in business today. 

Today, nearly every large department store carries the Faribault Woolen Mills blanket line, giving the mill national recognition. The improved blankets are washable and thermal, increasing functionality in households across the country. 

Duluth Pack proudly offers a selection of Faribault Woolen Mill products in-store and online.  

Happy swapped stories, friends!