Carpet Sample

Period1928-1941

MediumWool, jute

Dimensions53.5 × 26.5 in. (135.9 × 67.3 cm)

ClassificationsHousehold Textiles

Credit LineGift of Floyd Bennett, 2017

Object number2017.13.3

DescriptionRectangular carpet sample of wool yarn on jute fiber base. Stylized pattern of ferns and fronds in monochromatic shades of tan, medium brown, and dark brown.
Curatorial RemarksBrothers Arshag and Miran Karagheusian were born in Armenia but fled during the atrocities of theTurkish genocide in 1898, emigrating to London, England. The brothers began a carpet export business and later moved to America. In 1904, the brothers purchased the defunct V. Henry Rothschild Shirt Factory on Jackson Street in Freehold, Monmouth County, converting the plant into a carpet weaving factory. The Karagheusians employed numerous weavers from many of the great carpet manufacturing cities in England and Scotland. In 1928, A. & M. Karagheusian introduced their "Gulistan" carpet line, which successfully imitated the sheen and quality of expensive hand-woven carpeting from their native Middle East through the use of chemical bath treatments. The firm's main offices were located in Midtown Manhattan. The firm also maintained a plant in Roselle, New Jersey, where much of the wool yarn was spun and dyed. The firm also had plants in China where much of the necessary jute fibers were gathered and processed. By the early 1930s, A. & M. Karagheusian was the second largest privately held carpet company in the world. In 1932, the firm was awarded the contract to provide carpeting for the new Radio City Music Hall, and in 1935 received the commission to carpet the new Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Fred Astaire chose Karagheusian carpeting for his office, while Hollywood actress Jean Harlow sent the firm a lock of her signature platinum blonde hair to create a custom carpet color for her home. At its peak, the firm employed over 1,700 men and women. During 1940-1941, Bruce Springsteen's father, Douglas, worked at A. & M. Karagheusian as a creel boy, a specialized assistant to the weavers who operated the powerful looms. During World War II, the Freehold factory was converted to war production, weaving thousands of yards of a heavy water-resistant canvas cloth called "duck," used for tank covers, knapsacks, and tenting. After the war, the introduction of new weaving technology combined with continued labor issues caused the firm to gradually move its production South. The Freehold factory closed its doors in 1961. Mill workers were often allowed to purchase extra carpet samples from the mill, and many were used as area rugs, runners, or mats for many years. The Freehold factory did not sell directly to the public. Locally, McKelvey's store on Main Street in downtown Freehold sold A. & M. Karagheusian carpets and area rugs to the public.NotesThese carpet samples were owned by Mary Woolley Bennett (December 1910 – 2002). Mary grew up in Herbertsville (within Brick) New Jersey, and then moved to Freehold when she was 16 years old to take care of her sick Aunt, Jenny Hulse. They lived at 145 South Street, Freehold, and owned Hulse’s Garage. Mary Woolley started to work at the Karagheusian Rug Mill around 1930. Her main job was to tie loose knots and pick up dropped stitches after the rugs came off the loom, in what was known as the burling department. After the rugs were done with this stage they would be sent to the finishing department. One event that happening while Mary was working at the mill was a strike, in which a walkway was installed between the two buildings so the workers could get from place to place and avoid strikers. She married William A. Bennett in 1933, and quit working at the mill in 1936, when she became pregnant with a son (the donor’s brother). William worked on the family farm until 1960.Mary lived until just before her 92nd birthday, and was only taken ill the very last few months of her life.

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