Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill
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Foundational remains of mill, 2019
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | Foote Rd. at Vineyard Rd., Burlington, Connecticut |
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| Area | 3 acres (1.2 ha) |
| Built | 1781 |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Industrial |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001409 |
| Added to NRHP | September 13, 1977 |
The Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill was a very old building in Burlington, Connecticut. It was located where Foote Road and Vineyard Road meet. This mill was built around 1781 and changed many times over the years.
It was the only mill building from the 1700s left in Burlington. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. Sadly, the mill building is no longer standing today.
Contents
What Was the Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill Like?
The Hitchcock-Schwarzmann Mill was in a quiet, country part of northern Burlington. It was a group of wooden buildings connected together. The main part of the mill was built right over a small stream called Burlington Brook. This stream provided the power for the mill to work.
The main building was about two and a half stories tall. It was made with strong wooden beams held together with pegs. It also had a special roof structure called kingpost trusses.
Other smaller buildings were attached to the main mill. There was a single-story part with a sloped roof on the south side. Three more small buildings were connected to the west end.
Nearby Buildings from the Past
Close to where the mill stood, you can still find an old house from the 1700s. This was the miller's house. It is a one-and-a-half-story house with five windows across the front and a chimney in the middle. Another similar house, also linked to the mill's history, is a short distance away to the northeast.
Today, the mill building itself is gone. Only the old stone foundations are left to show where it once stood.
Who Owned and Used the Mill?
The main mill building was built around 1781. It seems that a person named Jared Tyler built it. At first, the mill was used to grind grain into flour. This type of mill is called a Gristmill.
In the early 1800s, a miller named Joel Hitchcock owned the property. Later, in 1880, George Schwarzmann bought the mill. By this time, the mill had grown bigger and also included a sawmill. A sawmill cuts logs into lumber.
How Did the Schwarzmann Family Use the Mill?
The Schwarzmann family ran the mill until 1972. They added even more operations to it. Besides grinding grain and cutting lumber, they also made cider and cut wood shingles for roofs.
In 1976, the Burlington Historical Society bought the mill complex. They planned to turn it into a museum. At that time, many of the mill's original machines were still inside. The old waterwheel, which used to power the mill, had been replaced in the 1800s with a more modern turbine.
