The historic mill village of Whitinsville and the Whitin Community Center exist today because of the success and generosity of generations of Whitin families. Beginning in the early 1800s, the Whitins amassed their fortune milling cotton and manufacturing textile machinery. The Whitinsville Cotton Mill and the Whitin Machine Works grew into industrial giants, and with their growth emerged an entire community. The companys workers were cared for in a paternalistic style that went far beyond the provisions of wages and housing. The Whitin family built churches, fire stations, a reservoir for water and recreation, a hospital, town hall, and even a retirement home. For over 150 years, the familys commitment to strengthening the quality of life continued.