Old Red Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Red Mill
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | VT 12, Northfield, Vermont |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1897 |
| NRHP reference No. | 77000102 |
| Added to NRHP | October 20, 1977 |
The Old Red Mill is a very old building in Northfield, Vermont. It was built way back in 1898. This mill is special because it still has most of its original machinery. This machinery used water power to grind grain.
The mill is so important that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977. This list helps protect important historical sites across the United States.
What the Old Red Mill Looks Like
The Old Red Mill is located in South Northfield, Vermont. You can find it where Vermont Route 12 meets Lovers Lane. It sits right next to Sunny Brook. This brook was super important because it provided all the power for the mill!
The building is made of wood and has a red color. It has a pointed roof, called a gabled roof. The outside walls are made of vertical wooden boards. The mill sits on a strong foundation made of slate stone.
How the Mill Got Its Power
The Old Red Mill used the power of water to work. Water from Sunny Brook flowed into a concrete dam. From there, it went through a special pipe called a penstock. This pipe directed the water into a metal turbine.
The turbine was like a big water wheel, but inside a case. As the water spun the turbine, it turned a main shaft. This shaft then used leather belts to power other machines. These machines helped clean and grind grain.
A Look Back at the Mill's History
People have been using this spot for mills for a very long time. There was a mill here even in the early 1800s! The current Old Red Mill was built after an earlier mill burned down in 1896.
M.W. Partch built this new mill between 1897 and 1898. It was a busy place, grinding grain for farmers until the mid-1940s. In the 1930s, a cider mill also started operating inside the building. This meant they could make apple cider there too!
Over the years, some smaller buildings that stored grain were taken down. But the main mill building and its amazing old machinery are still there today. They help us imagine what life was like long ago.
