Royalton Mill Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Royalton Mill Complex
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The duplex
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 Location in Vermont
Location in the United States
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| Location | South Royalton, Vermont |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1875 |
| Architectural style | Cape Cod Plan |
| NRHP reference No. | 83003232 |
| Added to NRHP | February 3, 1983 |
The Royalton Mill Complex is a special group of three old buildings in Royalton, Vermont. It includes two houses and a barn. These buildings are connected to an old mill that used to be nearby. You can still see parts of the mill's old dams and foundations. One of the houses was built around 1780. Many people believe it is the oldest building still standing in Royalton! This whole complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's an important historical site in the United States.
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What is the Royalton Mill Complex?
The Royalton Mill Complex is located on the east side of the First Branch White River. It's about 0.5 miles (0.8 km) north of the village of South Royalton. The buildings are near a big curve in the river. Mill Road (Town Road 12) runs along the east side of the property.
The Buildings at the Complex
There are three main buildings here. Each one has its own story:
- The Duplex: This is a two-and-a-half story wooden house. It was built around 1840. It was used as housing for workers who worked at the mill.
- The Cape Style House: West of the duplex is a smaller, one-story house. It has a classic "Cape" style with five windows across the front and a chimney in the middle. This house is very old, built between 1780 and 1781. It might even have wood from buildings that were destroyed during the 1780 Royalton raid.
- The Barn: South of the Cape house stands a barn built around 1880. It was part of the mill complex and used for storage.
A Look Back in Time
This area along the First Branch White River has a long history. People started building mills here around 1776. A person named Isaac Morgan likely started the first mill.
The Royalton Raid and Rebuilding
In 1780, there was a big event called the Royalton raid. Many buildings, including the mill and houses, were destroyed. But Isaac Morgan rebuilt the mill and his house after the raid. This site continued to be used for industry for 190 years!
What the Mill Produced
In the 1800s, this mill complex was very busy. It had many different types of mills:
- A sawmill cut wood.
- A gristmill ground grain into flour.
- A fulling mill helped make cloth.
- A nailery made nails.
- A furniture factory made furniture.
The old Cape style house is very special. It is one of only two 18th-century Cape houses in Royalton that still has its original central chimney. It is truly believed to be the oldest building in the entire town!
