Beaver Mills (Keene, New Hampshire) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Beaver Mills
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Beaver Mills
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 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
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| Location | 93-115 Railroad Street Keene, New Hampshire |
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| Area | 5.5 acres (2.2 ha) |
| Built | 1871 |
| NRHP reference No. | 99001481 |
| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1999 |
The Beaver Mills are a really old and important group of buildings in Keene, New Hampshire, United States. They are located on Railroad Street. These buildings were once a busy center where many different wood products were made.
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What are the Beaver Mills?
The Beaver Mills are a historic group of factory buildings. They are found at 93-115 Railroad Street in Keene, New Hampshire. This complex includes two large brick factory buildings. These were built in the late 1800s. There are also several smaller buildings. These include places for storage, garages, and a boiler house. The very first parts of these mills were built in 1871 and 1872.
A Look at the Buildings
The main part of the complex has two large buildings. They are called Mill #1 and Mill #2.
Mill #1 is at 115 Railroad Street. It started as two separate buildings. Around 1920, these two buildings were joined together. This created one large, three-and-a-half-story brick building. Both of the original parts were built in 1871-1872. A three-story section was added to the northern part in 1915.
Mill #2 is at 93 Railroad Street. It is also three-and-a-half stories tall. It looks a lot like the eastern part of Mill #1. Mill #2 was also built in 1871-1872. It originally had a small tower called a cupola on top. Sadly, this cupola was destroyed by fire in 1889 and was never rebuilt. A long, two-story wooden building stretches out from Mill #2. Around 1980, a new concrete and metal section was added. This almost doubled the size of the main Mill #2 building.
What Was Made Here?
For many years, the Beaver Mill complex was used to make wood products. It was like a special starting place for small businesses. These businesses focused on working with wood. The mills provided them with steam power. They also gave them easy access to the railroads. This made it simple to get materials and send out finished products.
Many different things were made at the Beaver Mills. These included chairs, boxes, pails, and buckets. At the time, this complex was the largest mill in Keene. It is also one of the few old mills that are still standing today. Mill #2 is still used for industrial work. Mill #1 has been changed to allow for commercial businesses.
A Special Place in History
The Beaver Mill complex is very important to the history of Keene. Because of its historical value, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999. This is a list of places in the United States that are worth preserving.
