Attleboro grew from a small farming community into a world-renowned manufacturing center as entrepreneurs established textile mills and shops powered by the Ten Mile River, and the arrival of the railroad in 1836 encouraged a broader industrial economy producing jewelry, tools, machinery, and military items. A skilled workforce of toolmakers, designers, metallurgists, craftsmen, and many immigrants settled there, and during the 1900's the city became known as the "Hub of the Jewelry World." Industry also damaged the environment, and Attleboro has worked to repair that harm through projects including the L.G. Balfour Riverwalk, Kevin J. Dumas Walkway, and Judith H. Robbins Riverwalk Park. After learning the trade in England, Robert Wolfenden came to Attleboro in 1868 and founded the Robert Wolfenden & Sons Dye Works along the Ten Mile River; after the plant burned in 1902, he rebuilt a larger, more modern facility that grew into the largest dye works in the world. The Wolfenden family also built several Victorian mansions that still stand on County Street. Among the city's important industries were Dodgeville Mill, begun in 1809 as the Attleborough Manufacturing Co. for textiles; Blackinton's Shuttle Shop, established in 1852 to make shuttles for the cotton textile industry; James E. Blake Co., begun in 1859 producing Army badges and regimental insignia before later making rolled plate jewelry and cigarette cases; R.F. Simmons, started in 1873 making chains, ladies' hair pins, and men's gold collar pins; Watson & Newell Co., begun in 1874 producing sterling flatware and holloware and employing 200 people; Howard & Bullough American Machine, started in 1894 manufacturing cotton mill machinery; Leach & Garner Co., organized in 1899 to make rolled gold plate in sheet, wire, and seamless tubing; and L.G. Balfour Co., which began in 1913 specializing in college fraternity jewelry and special insignias.