"'During its first year of business [1845] the [Tapleyville] carpet factory was burn, but another was immediately erected. It is probable that the Tapleys owned the factory itself and at the time had no interest in the business, but after the fire they took over the business and erected immediately another building…This factory was operated by a 25-horse-power engine, had about 30 looms in use, employed 60 hands, used about 100,000 pounds of wool annually, and wove about 60,000 yards of carpeting each year…From 1847 to 1866 the owners were Gilbert Tapley and his son [Gilbert A. Tapley], the product being ingrain and stair carpets, later making ingrain only. The Salem Gazette of Dec. 18, 1860, says that …100,000 yards of carpeting were turned out annually. In February, 1865, the Danvers Carpet Company was formed,… Gilbert A. Tapley, president, the principal owners being residents of Newburyport. In May 1875, it changed hands again and became the Eagle Carpet Company, employing 100 hands and producing annually 150,000 yards of woolen ingrain carpet…Gilbert Augustus Tapley, son of the original owner, was the treasurer and agent, and he continued to manage it until the business was discontinued…" (Tapley, 140-141) By 1879 the carpet factory had been replaced my Poor, Milton and Tapley, a morocco [leather] manufacturer.