The Aldrich mill

[asakiyume]

So here is the bright red mill building--Aldrich Mill--which we passed on our way to the dino tracks place last weekend.



Look at its lovely foundations. . .



And the Batchelor Brook, streaming away beside it



The earliest mill on this site was used as a distillery, but this mill was built in 1836 to manufacture woolen goods. The Aldrich family acquired an interest in it in the 1840s, and from 1860 on, it was solely theirs. During the Civil War, it manufactured wool blankets. In 1870, it became a grist mill, and in 1913 a blacksmith shop. (Sources for these facts are here. and here. Mr. Nash told us some of them, but I refreshed my memory by searching online.)

Why did the mill have a bell? Maybe for calling people to work?





In the 1940s, a water wheel was added, but never used. The water wheel isn't on anymore--at least, we couldn't see evidence of it--but here's a picture of what it looked like.

It's still owned by the Aldrich family, according to Mr. Nash.

Comments

[amaebi.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's a handsome water wheel!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

According to one of the sources I checked, in 1960 it was the largest mill wheel in New England.

[queenoftheskies.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful old building and what a wonderful history.

That waterwheel was something!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

And imagine coming round the bend on a bike ride and finding it! And it's not something that's set up as a historical site--there's no plaque or anything--it's just there, part of the everyday landscape. It was wonderful to stumble upon.

[dudeshoes.livejournal.com]

Wondering if it's the same Aldrich family that owns the beautiful, rundown Hudson Valley Estate Rokeby, http://suzannesmomsblog.com/2013/03/13/a-tale-of-three-houses/

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Could be! Aldrich isn't a rare name, but it's not as common as Smith. With all the genealogical sites around, it wouldn't be hard to find out.

I love that there are still people with all the historical names of this region still living here.

[yamamanama.livejournal.com]

I read somewhere, possibly here, that barns and mills were painted red because they'd mix the paint with rust to keep fungus from growing on the wood.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

So the idea is that rust helps inhibit fungus? Does it work, I wonder. It certainly makes for scenic buildings.

[yamamanama.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually sure.

[negothick.livejournal.com]

Mill bells were essential--who had clocks? And they were up before the sun a good part of the year. Bells called them to work, rang for noon-time, and dismissed them home at night.

[negothick.livejournal.com]

And the Ramtail Factory in Rhode Island had a haunted bell-rope. Here's the story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISA1B8v6SF8

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

A haunted bell-rope! How cool! I'll go watch the video next.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

That was marvelous--loved the telling of it! Love the old text saying haunted

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I knew that about big mills like the ones Lowell, but hadn't really thought about it for a small mill like this--but yeah, it makes sense.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

Great photos.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Thanks--I got your message and sent you a reply....

[mnfaure.livejournal.com]

I love that red. And those foundations, very cool.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Right? A real pleasure to stumble upon.

[khiemtran.livejournal.com]

Great photos! I love the bright colour of the walls and how the roof (and the whole building) seems to sag at one end. Talk about ageing gracefully...

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that roofs seem to be the first thing that collapses in old buildings around here. I don't know why that is, though. I wonder if they're going to need to do something to brace this one's roof at some point.

I love the red too. It's ***really** bright.

[heliopausa.livejournal.com]

Yes, indeed, great foundations! :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I'd love to scramble down and take a closer look if the owners didn't mind.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

With that colour it could almost be Sweden. :)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Maybe the color's a transporter. I could touch it and find myself in Sweden.

[frigg.livejournal.com]

That could be, better try it. ;)

[negothick.livejournal.com]

Glad I was able to point you to New England lore you didn't already know: I'll be mentioning the Ramtail Factory at Necronomicon Providence next week. And now for more pedantry: Roofs. They're always the weakest point! Think of all those roofless Greek temples and Medieval castles. They all had roofs at one time. Unless someone replaced them regularly, all those roofs fell in. And so with our abandoned mills, New England Gothic's stand-in for those romantic ruined castles.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

They really are our stand-ins--and they do well for drama and imposing-ness.

I pointed a few more people to that video on Twitter (Claire Cooney, for one!) crediting you with showing it to me.