Hanks Silk Mill

Summary

Rodney and Horace Hanks built this mill in 1810 in Mansfield, Connecticut. It was one of the earliest American silk mills and produced some of the first silk with machines that were powered by a water wheel. Here, the Hanks produced silk thread for sewing that they proudly called "the oldest and best brand of silk on the continent."

Rodney and Horace Hanks built this mill in 1810 in Mansfield, Connecticut. It was one of the earliest American silk mills and produced some of the first silk with machines that were powered by a water wheel. Here, the Hanks produced silk thread for sewing that they proudly called "the oldest and best brand of silk on the continent."

Artifact

Mill (Building)

Date Made

1810

Creators

Hanks, Horace, 1780-1850 

Hanks, Rodney, 1782-1846 

Place of Creation

United States, Connecticut, Tolland county 

Creator Notes

Built in 1810 by Rodney Hanks and his nephew Horace Hanks in the hamlet of Hanks Hill, near Mansfield in Tolland County, Connecticut.

Greenfield Village
 On Exhibit

at Greenfield Village in Liberty Craftworks District

Object ID

31.1088.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Wood (Plant material)
Glass (Material)

Dimensions

Width: 12 ft

Length: 28 ft

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