Minterburn Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Minterburn Mill
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The 1906 building after a recent renovation to a apartment complex
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 Location in Connecticut
Location in the United States
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| Location | 215 E. Main St., Vernon, Connecticut |
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| Area | 5.1 acres (2.1 ha) |
| Built | 1834 and 1906 |
| Built by | Frank B. Gilbreth |
| Architect | C. R. Makepeace & Co. |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 84001171 |
| Added to NRHP | February 16, 1984 |
The Minterburn Mill is an old factory complex in Vernon, Connecticut. It's located at 215 East Main Street, in the Rockville part of town. This mill was one of the first places in Rockville to start making things in factories. It began way back in 1834. The buildings that are still standing show how factory designs changed over time. In 1984, the mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's an important historical site. In 2016, the mill was turned into apartments.
Contents
What is the Minterburn Mill?
The Minterburn Mill complex is in the northeast part of Vernon. It sits near the Hockanum River, which used to power the mill. The complex has four main buildings and a concrete dam. These structures were built between 1834 and 1906.
Key Buildings at the Mill
- The oldest building, called the Rockville Warp Building, was built in 1834. It's a large stone building with 3 and a half stories. It shows off the Greek Revival architecture style, which was popular back then.
- Another important building, called the Minterburn Mill, was built in 1906. It has four stories. This building is special because it was one of the first factories to use strong, reinforced concrete.
A Look at the Mill's History
The area where the mill stands has been used for making things for a long time. Even before the mill, there was an iron workshop and a place that made gin in the 1700s. Later, in the late 1700s, a man named George Hall had a "fulling mill" here. A fulling mill was used to clean and thicken wool.
From Warp to Woolen Fabrics
- In 1821, Rockville's first textile mill was built nearby. The owners of that mill bought Hall's land and water rights in 1834.
- This is when the Rockville Warp Building was constructed. The owners also built a stone dam, which was later replaced by the concrete dam you see today.
- The mill made cotton "warps." Warps are the threads that run lengthwise on a loom when making fabric. These warps were used to make yarn and a fabric called satinet in other Rockville mills.
- In 1906, a new company called Minterburn Mills bought the factory. They built the new concrete dam and the second main building.
- Minterburn Mills made woolen and worsted fabrics. They continued to operate until 1952.
- After that, Roosevelt Mills bought the plant. They made knitwear there until at least the 1970s.
