Spofford Sawmill
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Artifact Overview
Sawmills were among the first mills in new settlements, supplying lumber for people's homes and barns. Henry Ford had this mill built in Greenfield Village to house early up-and-down sawmill machinery. One of the large beams holding up the building came from a water-powered sawmill that George Spofford operated in Georgetown, Massachusetts, back in the 1600s.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Sawmill (Factory)
Date Made
1940
Subject Date
1680-1855
Creator Notes
The sawmill was designed by Edward J. Cutler for The Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. It was built in 1940 using some materials from the original late 17th century mill in Georgetown, Massachusetts.
Location
at Greenfield Village in Liberty Craftworks District
Object ID
29.3058.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Stone (Worked rock)
Metal
Glass (Material)
Technique
Reconstruction (Construction)
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Related Content
SetGreenfield Village Buildings
- 84 Artifacts
As America was taking its first steps towards industrialization, the Hanks family of Mansfield, Connecticut, made early attempts to mechanize the production of silk thread. Rodney Hanks and his nephew Horatio Hanks built this mill in 1810. It was the first silk mill in America, producing some of the first silk with machines that were powered by a waterwheel.