3D DRONE MODELLING by TODD – using both gaussian splatting and photogrammetry techniques from a drone

The Milltown Cotton Mill, located in Milltown (now part of St. Stephen), New Brunswick, played a significant role in the economic and social development of the region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Here are the key highlights:

🧵 Historical Highlights of the Milltown Cotton Mill

📍 Location and Context

• Situated in Milltown, NB, on the St. Croix River, directly across from Calais, Maine.

• Strategically placed for water power and cross-border trade.

🏭 Founding and Operation

• Opened in 1881 by the St. Croix Cotton Company, with strong American investment ties.

• Quickly became one of the largest textile mills in Canada.

• Specialized in spinning and weaving cotton fabrics, including sheeting, shirting, and drills.

• Employed hundreds of workers, many of them women and immigrants.

⚙️ Industrial Significance

• Utilized hydroelectric power from the river—a cutting-edge technology for its time.

• One of the few Canadian mills to successfully compete with U.S. textile giants.

• Played a central role in the industrialization of southwestern New Brunswick.

🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Workforce and Community Impact

• Provided housing, schools, and stores for workers—a classic mill town model.

• Was a cultural and economic hub for Milltown for decades.

• Helped shape the identity of the border communities of St. Stephen and Calais.

📉 Decline and Closure

• Faced increasing pressure from southern U.S. mills with cheaper labor and closer proximity to cotton supplies.

• Closed in 1957, marking the end of an era.

• Left a lasting legacy in the region, though most structures have since been removed or repurposed.

🏛️ Legacy

• Remains a symbol of Atlantic Canada’s brief but significant foray into the textile manufacturing industry.

• Commemorated in local museums and heritage societies, especially the Charlotte County Archives and Chocolate Museum in St. Stephen, which include mill-related displays.

Would you like visuals, maps, or details about former employees or the site’s current condition?