Olde Woolen Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
North Berwick Woolen Mill
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Canal St., North Berwick, Maine |
|---|---|
| Area | 1.5 acres (0.61 ha) |
| Built | 1862 |
| Architectural style | Mid 19th Century Revival, Late Victorian |
| NRHP reference No. | 83000482 |
| Added to NRHP | July 21, 1983 |
The Olde Woolen Mill, also called the North Berwick Woolen Mill, is a really old building complex in North Berwick, Maine. It sits right by the Great Works River on Canal Street. Built in 1862, this mill is super important because it's the only large mill left in the Berwick area of York County. Because of its history, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.
Contents
About the Mill Building
The Olde Woolen Mill is located between Canal Street and the Great Works River. It's just south of Wells Street (Maine State Route 9) in the center of North Berwick village. The mill pond, which held water for the mill, is found just north of Wells Street.
Mill Design and Style
This mill complex looks a lot like other New England mills from the 1800s. It has a big rectangular main building with smaller sections attached to it. The buildings show a mix of different architectural styles. You can spot parts of Greek Revival, Italianate, and Colonial Revival designs in its look.
A Look at the Mill's History
An earlier wooden mill stood on this same spot in 1832. Sadly, that first mill was destroyed by a fire. The brick building you see today was built in its place in 1862.
Producing for the Civil War
The mill was mostly owned by Quakers, a religious group. It was one of the first mills to use machines to make blankets. During the American Civil War, the mill made uniforms and blankets for the Union soldiers.
A Special Steam Engine
Inside the mill, at its very bottom level, there's a very old steam engine. It's one of the earliest steam engines ever used in the United States. In fact, it's the only one of its kind that still exists today!
From Mill to Movie Set
The Olde Woolen Mill stopped working in 1955. It stayed mostly empty for almost 40 years. Then, in 1995, it became famous when it was used as a filming location. The mill was the Parrish Shoe Factory in the fantasy movie Jumanji.
New Life for the Old Mill
In 2009, the building got a new purpose. The Caleb Group, a non-profit housing organization from New England, renovated it. They turned the old mill into a place for senior housing. This project was special because it was the first to get a tax credit from the Maine State Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Act of 2008.
