Belknap-Sulloway Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Belknap-Sulloway Mill
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 25 Beacon Street East, Laconia, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1823 |
| NRHP reference No. | 71000046 |
| Added to NRHP | January 25, 1971 |
The Belknap-Sulloway Mill, now called the Belknap Mill Museum, is a historic building in Laconia, New Hampshire. It was built between 1823 and 1828. This mill is a rare example of an early textile mill in New England that is still in good condition. It was a very important business that helped the city of Laconia grow around it.
The mill was used to make cloth until 1969. It was later opened as a museum in 1991. The Belknap Mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Contents
Discover the Belknap Mill's History
The Belknap-Sulloway Mill is located in downtown Laconia. It sits between Beacon Street East and the Winnipesaukee River. The river was very important because it provided the power for the mill to operate in the past.
What Does the Mill Look Like?
The mill is a brick building with three and a half stories. It has a special roof shape called a stepped gable roof. Along the roof, there are rows of small windows called clerestory windows that let light into the building.
You can see slender chimneys at each end of the mill. In the middle of the roof, there's a wooden tower called a cupola. This cupola holds a bell. The front of the building faces north and has nine sections of windows. In the center, there's a part that sticks out, which holds a staircase.
How the Mill Was Built
The very first mill on this spot was made of wood and built in 1811. At that time, this area was part of Meredith, New Hampshire. The wooden mill unfortunately burned down in 1823.
The current brick building was built to replace it. It was fully working by 1828. People believe the bell in the cupola is a new version of the bell from the first mill. Unlike newer mills that use materials that don't burn easily, this mill's inside floors are made with wooden beams.
Over the years, some changes were made to the building. A door was added to the stair tower before 1875. Also, some smaller brick sections were added to the back of the building. Around 1900, an addition was built to hold three power turbines, which helped run the mill.
The Mill's Impact on Laconia
This mill, along with another nearby mill called the Busiel-Seeburg Mill, played a huge role in the growth of the area. This place was first known as Meredith Bridge, but it grew into what we now call Laconia. The Belknap Mill kept making textiles until 1969. Later, in 1991, it reopened its doors as a museum for everyone to learn about its history.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Belknap County, New Hampshire
- New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 135: The Belknap Mill - The Busiel Mill
