In 1827, Robert Beattie (1811-1882) immigrated to the United States from Northern Ireland at the age of 16. By 1832, he was apprenticing with the J and N Haight Carpet Company in Jersey City. This company had established a mill in Little Falls, NJ, in 1826; in 1833, Robert Beattie became the manager of the Little Falls mill, overseeing the introduction of power looms to the carpet manufacturing industry. The following year, Beattie left his company to pursue a personal business career in New York City; by 1840, he founded his own carpet company. With his newly founded company, Beattie purchased the Little Falls mill with its 20 operating mills from its owners in 1843 and renamed his company the Little Falls Carpet Mills (in 1871 the name was changed to Robert Beattie and Sons and, in 1882, to The Beattie Manufacturing Company).Beattie would replace the 20 power looms from the Haight Company and reintroduce the power looms with much success in 1857. The company produced ingrain and three-ply carpets on 44 looms.

In 1844, Beattie bought the surrounding land to take advantage of waterpower further upstream on the Passaic River and by 1906, the company owned 12 buildings on its Little Falls site.Two notable mills on the Little Falls property were the Brownstone Mill (constructed in 1858) and the large brick mill (built in 1876). At one point, there were 29 mill buildings operating for the Beattie Manufacturing Company. Robert Beattie, and what became the Beattie Manufacturing Company, played a considerable role in the development of the Little Falls community. In 1868, Little Falls was incorporated as a township and, by 1869, the first railroad was built near Little Falls. Robert Beattie was instrumental in attracting the railroads and built Union Boulevard to promote access to the railroad. By 1875, the Montclair and Greenwood Lake Railroad passed through Little Falls. The Beattie Manufacturing Company produced Axminster and blended carpets. The Sterling Axminster line, produced in 1938, was particularly notable due to its innovation with blended wool and rayon. The company also produced velvets and Wiltons. Additionally, the Beattie Manufacturing Company excavated brownstone out of a nearby quarry, which was used to construct the Brownstone Mill in Little Falls and also furnished the brownstone for the New York Trinity Church, Albany Capitol building, and Essex County Jail. During wartime, Beattie Manufacturing contributed to the war effort as well. During the Civil War (fighting on the Union side) and Spanish American conflicts, the company manufactured blankets, gun wadding, and duck fabric. Throughout WWI and WWII, Beattie Manufacturing again produced duck fabric for the United States. The company also produced flamethrowers and materials for chemical warfare during WWII. In 1982, the Beattie Manufacturing Company closed under the management of John Beattie from Morristown, NJ, who was the great-great grandson of Robert Beattie. The company stayed within family management for the duration of its operation and became one of the oldest carpet manufacturers in the United States to operate under continuous management. John Beattie cited debt and family disagreements for the closure. In 1986, the property was auctioned in Paterson, NJ, and was purchased by Affirmative Development, Inc. for $8.5 million. This company transformed some of the Beattie mill buildings into condominiums in 1986.