Bisbee Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Bisbee Mill
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Bisbee Mill in 2014
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chesterfield, Massachusetts |
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| NRHP reference No. | 05000219 |
| Added to NRHP | March 31, 2005 |
The Bisbee Mill is an old gristmill located in Chesterfield, Massachusetts. It sits by the Dead Branch of the Westfield River. A gristmill is a place where grain is ground into flour.
The mill property includes the main wooden mill building. It also has a former mill pond, which was created by a dam across the river. A special canal brought river water to the mill to power its machines. This area also holds the spot where the Damon sawmill once stood, built in 1761. Another mill, the Pierce cornmill, was located nearby in 1823.
The Mill's Long History
The Bisbee Mill has a long and interesting history. It all began in 1823 when Elisha Bisbee created the mill pond. He built a dam to hold back the water. Sadly, that first dam and another one built in 1859 are no longer there.
Elisha Bisbee also dug a canal to bring water to his new mill building. Other mills nearby would have had canals too, but their paths are not known today. The Bisbee family owned and worked the mill for five generations. They kept changing and adding to the building over many years.
The mill finally closed its doors in the 1960s. Later, the Chesterfield Historical Society bought the property. Since 1997, they have run it as the Bisbee Mill Museum. It helps people learn about how mills worked long ago.
How the Mill Building Grew
The main mill building started small in 1823. It was a wooden building with a pointed roof, about 30 feet (9 meters) long and 24 feet (7 meters) wide. In the 1850s, another section was added to the east. This part was 20 feet (6 meters) long and 24 feet (7 meters) wide.
These two parts were joined together, even though they were at slightly different heights. Both sections originally sat on foundations made of fieldstone. Over time, parts of these foundations were replaced or made stronger with concrete.
A third section was added to the building between 1888 and 1929. This part was 12 feet (3.6 meters) wide and 58 feet (17.6 meters) long. It had a flat, sloping roof and was built onto the south side of the main building. The last big addition was made in 1954. A large new section was added to the north side of the building.
What Was Inside the Mill?
Inside the Bisbee Mill, you can see how it worked. Water power was sent to the mill's three levels using shafts, gears, and belts. These parts helped run many different machines. The mill mainly worked as a gristmill, grinding grain. It also had a woodworking shop and a smithy, which is a place where metal is shaped.
On the lowest level, in the oldest part of the building from 1823, is the wheel pit. This pit holds a special turbine wheel that was installed in 1919. All the levels of the mill have been set up to show the equipment used there. This equipment was part of the mill's work for over 100 years.
The Bisbee Mill was recognized as an important historical place in 2005. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
See also
