"This woollen mill was first established by a Mr. Preston in 1868, who sold it the next year to John Steinman and John Gerhardt. Steinman bought out Gerhardt, and in turn sold to Field and Hetherington."
   - the Old Home Week Programme - 1930

"In 1877 a woollen m ill was established by Mr. J. G. Field, employing four hands. Mr. Field has succeeded in building up a large trade in manufacturing woollen goods of all kinds which are shipped to every corner of our country. In this factory a number of people are employed, a substantial brick and other buildings having been erected to accommodate the trade. The machinery here is operated by a 115-horse power engine, which is also used as motive power on dynamos, supplying electric light to the village."
   - Johnston's Hist. of Perth 1825-1902

On June 18, 1903 the Field advertisement call for 50,000 pounds of local wool with 2¢ a pound extra when taken out in goods. At this time the firm operated a dry goods or woollen shop in the Masonic Block, the west half of what is now Seltzers store.

"Mr. Field never regretted his decision to come to Tavistock. Today the name of J.G. Field & Son is known across Canada from Halifax to Victoria and the tiny plant that had five employees in 1877 has a payroll now of over sixty men and girls. With a production of 1000 dozen pair of socks per week, the factory has worked day and night for over six years ... Peter Steinman, the son of the former owner, remained with Mr. Field for over forty years. He died only a year ago. In addition to Mr. Steinman, the staff consisted of a woman weaver, and a man who did the spinning. Today the mill employs from 60 to 62,about fifty of whom are girls. All the knitting and looping is piece-work and the girls earn good wages ...

"During the Great War, the Field firm supplied mills at Stratford , Mitchell, Goderich and Parkhill with yarn to make socks and gloves. One order for the three Stratford mills on a government requisition required 220,000 pounds of yam. The local plant also filled several big orders for the American government prior to the close of hostilities. During the War Years,wool rose as high as $ 1.10 and then toppled to 45¢ a pound. The Field mill today manufactures nothing but socks, and Field socks are known across the Dominion. The plant has 26 knitting machines in operation and produces approximately 1000 dozen pair of socks a week."
   - Howard C. Obeay, Stratford Beacon Herald, March 17, 1937

THE KNITTERS (front to back)
Marie Fuhr, Edith Niebergal, Lily Gingerich, Mabel Merklinger, Jessie Lebegut

Providing better street lighting than that of fewer than a dozen lamps in front of private dwellings, became a matter of Council concern. It seems that Mr. Field offered to provide 30 lights at an annual cost of $400. A clash of personalities evidently occurred and Ontario Hydro was invited to supply the service, as the result of a big majority on the 1916 bylaw. The bitterness that it aroused is regrettable, but the Field firm continued as one of Tavistock's best under the son James Vipond until June 1953, when it was taken over by a new company, with Mr. Sam MacDougall as president. The plant then had some 60 employees an turned out 800 dozen pair of socks.

J.G. FIELD & SON KNITTING MILLS - 1934
TAVISTOCK, ONTARIO
Mr. J.G. Field, Ted Mallon, Marie Liebler, John Pfeffer Sr., Millie Lebegut, Marie Fuhr, Mr. J.V. Field, Ted Neeb, Dan Neumann, Lorne Lebegut, Wilfred Schippling
Martha Krug, Marie Schippling, Ivy Kipfer, Verna Bender, Violet Erb, Martha Schippling, Lydia Schwartzentruber, Edna Baechler, Lily Gingerich, Anna Mae Ropp, Martha Blum, Jessie Lebegut, Helen Graviston, Edna Neeb, Mabel Merklinger, Sally Erb, Kathleen Jones, Merle Holloway, Phyllis Jones, Bessie Lebegut, ... Jantzi, Hilda Youngblut, Margaret Woelfle, Arnetta Vogel, Margaret Keutsch, Nancy Zehr, Marie Heinbuch, Selma Wilker, edna Hammer, Lydia Zehr, Melinda Jantzi, Violet Roth, Rosie Jutzi, Clara Zehr, Verna Currah, Marg. Fullick, Edith Niebergal, Marie Facey, Beulah Keutsch, Alberta Schmidt, Herta Donner, Marie Helmuth, Ada Hiuser, Violet McGregor, Alma Lingelbach, Florence Neeb, Anna Mae Krug.

In the intervening fourteen years according to the two foremen, Henry Hallam and Ted Mallon, the whole plant has been up-dated and expanded a number of times, with the last addition in 1966. The number of knitting machines has increased to 56, but one girl can take care of eight of these automatic knitters. The 82 employees, 23 of them me n, now turn out 3200 dozen pair per week. These include not only the heavy sock type but 82 different styles, with a variety of types in each. The Tavistock Gazette of Sept. 27, 1967 report that from August 16 to 31 the firm filled a government contract for sock valued at $79,971. Mr. Hall am reported that since he came, there has been a complete change of machinery in an effort to reduce labour costs in a very competitive field, with raw material brought all the way from the Antipodes.

Mr. MacDougall, Sr., spends much of his time "on the road", the supervision of the plant being handled by hi son, Ronald, a graduate of the Hamilton Textile Institute. The office now employs four; Miss Ella Schmidt, office supervisor for a long time, retired in 1967. Mrs. Neil Gregory, Misses Betty Anne Bagg Joyce Ruby, Karen Erb, are full-time employees and Mrs. Ronald Seltzer, a former employee, helps out on occasion.