Portsmouth Company facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Portsmouth Company Cotton Mills: Counting House
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | ME 4 at Salmon Falls River, South Berwick, Maine |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1832 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 75000208 |
| Added to NRHP | October 10, 1975 |
The Portsmouth Company was a business that made cotton fabric. It started in 1832 in South Berwick, Maine, USA. This company was one of many cotton mills in the area. For many years, the Hale family from Portsmouth, New Hampshire, managed the company.
Today, the company's old counting house is a museum. The Old Berwick Historical Society runs this museum.
Contents
What Was the Portsmouth Company?
The Portsmouth Company was officially started in 1831. It ran a large cotton mill in South Berwick, Maine. A cotton mill is a factory where raw cotton is spun into thread and then woven into cloth. These mills were very important for making clothes and other textiles a long time ago.
The Counting House Museum
The Counting House is a special old building in South Berwick. It is located at Main and Liberty Streets. This building is the only part of the original Portsmouth Company that is still standing.
People used to think the Counting House was built in 1832. However, experts who study old buildings now believe it was built later, around 1850. In 1975, the Counting House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a very important historical site.
Today, the Old Berwick Historical Society uses the building. They run it as the Counting House Museum. It helps people learn about the history of the area.
What Does the Counting House Look Like?
The Portsmouth Company Counting House is a brick building with two and a half stories. It sits on the eastern bank of the Salmon Falls River. The building has a strong granite foundation. Its roof is steep and pointed.
The ends of the roof are shaped like triangles. Each triangle has a special three-part window. The corners of the building have brick columns, called pilasters. A decorative brick band goes around the building below the roof.
The front of the building faces south and has five sections. Brick columns separate these sections. The main entrance is in the middle. Inside, the first floor has three rooms. The second floor has a large open space. The inside of the building still has its beautiful old woodwork. This style is called Greek Revival, which was popular for buildings in the 1800s.
See Also
