Mill No. 9 Lofts (Indianapolis, Indiana)

 condominium, 1920s construction, building/structure that has been renovated/restored/reconstructed

 Upload a photo

Mill No. 9 was once part of Real Silk which was founded by Indianapolis brothers Jack and Lazure Goodwin in 1922. At the company’s peak in 1929, Real Silk encompassed the entire 600 block of North College Avenue. Real Silk sold more than 12 million pair of women’s silk hosiery that year. An expansion occurring in the 1920’s that added plants in Dalton and Fort Wayne. Major expansions occurred at the Indianapolis mill in 1926 and 1929. The collapse of the stock market in October 1929 caused the price of raw silk to plummet in 1930.

Gustave Efoymson was called upon to help bring Real Silk back to profitability. Real Silk boomed during World War II after signing a War Contract to manufacture silk parachutes. The discovery of nylon in the 1930’s began the slow demise of Real Silk. Over the next 23 years, gradually, Real Silk divested its manufacturing operations. In 1961, the 425,000 sq ft mill became The Printing Arts Center Inc.

Mill No. 9 is located in the Chatham-Arch Historic District which exhibits both historical and architectural significance. The area encompasses Civil War era cottages which represent the working man's presence in the early stages of Indianapolis' growth in the 1860’s. The northern portion of Chatham-Arch illustrates a mixture of housing and commercial buildings where workers' cottages, middle class residences, apartment buildings and flats along with commercial buildings with second floor sleeping rooms all existed. In addition, there were even a few large homes for the wealthy.

Massachusetts Avenue in Chatham-Arch exhibits several fine post-Civil War and early twentieth century commercial buildings, which recall the close relationship between the neighborhood merchants on the Avenue and the neighborhoods to the north and south. Steps from your front door and nestled within the Chatham-Arch Historical District is the Mass Ave Arts and Entertainment District. In 1821, Massachusetts Avenue was designated as one of downtowns four diagonal streets.

Many fine performing arts centers are located along “Mass Ave” not to mention the delightful array of restaurants range from coffee houses and sandwich shops to pubs and fine dining establishments. Mass Ave is the perfect place for an afternoon stroll with unique art galleries and boutiques.