Norad Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Norad Mill
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(2012)
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 Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | 60 Roberts Dr., North Adams, Massachusetts |
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| Area | 4.5 acres (1.8 ha) |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| MPS | North Adams MRA |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003417 |
| Added to NRHP | October 25, 1985 |
The Norad Mill is a historic building in Braytonville, a part of North Adams, Massachusetts. It's one of the oldest mill buildings in North Adams that still looks much like it did when it was first built. This means you can still see its cool Italianate style.
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What is the Norad Mill?
The Norad Mill is a large, old factory building. It was once a very important place for making cloth. Today, it's recognized as a historic landmark. It shows us what factories looked like a long time ago.
Early Days of the Mill
The land where the mill stands was bought in 1831. Two brothers, William E. and Thomas A. Brayton, bought it. In 1832, they built a stone mill. It was three stories tall and made large print cloths. Their company was called T.A. Brayton & Co. The small town that grew around this new factory was named Braytonville. For a short time, it was called Deweyville, after Daniel Dewey.
Making Wool for the Civil War
The Norad Mill building we see today was built in 1863. It was built by Sanford Blackinton and Daniel Dewey. Blackinton was a big mill owner in North Adams. He used the mill to make woolen goods. These were needed a lot during the American Civil War.
In 1878, the business changed its name. It became the North Adams Manufacturing Company. At that time, the factory had 50 looms. It employed 275 people. They made about 20,000 yards of fancy wool fabric each month.
Changes Over the Years
The mill kept making woolen textiles for many years. This continued until 1947. In 1954, a printing company moved into the building. This company was called Excelsior Printing Company. Later, it was bought by Crane & Co.. Crane & Co. kept the printing business going.
In 2005, a member of the Crane family bought the mill. Then, in 2016, the printing business was sold. It moved its operations to another place. The mill complex includes the main building. It also has other older buildings and a storehouse built in 1904. The whole complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. This means it's a special place in history.
Where is the Mill Located?
The Norad Mill is about one mile west of downtown North Adams. It sits on the north side of the Hoosic River. It's at the corner of Roberts Drive and the Mohawk Trail (which is Massachusetts Route 2).
The main building is made of brick and has three stories. Over time, smaller parts were added to it. A big addition was made in 1898. This part kept the same roofline as the original building. But it used newer building methods.
The Mill Today
Today, the Norad Mill has been bought and partly fixed up. New businesses have moved in since 2018. These include a company that sells yarn, a place to taste wine, and a coffee roasting shop. It's cool to see an old building get new life!
