The Old Mills Close By

The Old Mills, Part I

The Old Lippitt Mill Was Open Until Recently - Built in 1810

The Hope Mill Built in the 1830's 

More of the Hope Mill

Every mill has a dam - the water generated power

The view of Hope Mill from the dam

I love the old mills that surround the area near where I live. They are filled with so much history and it's sad to see these two old mills now vacant. The one in Phenix (up top) was housing several businesses until about a month ago. After taking the picture I saw a for sale sign on the front of the building. It was a grist mill from at least 1737. It was one of Rhode Island's earliest textile mills. 

The other mill is in Hope. This mill was build in the 1830's. It was supposed to be turned into condo's until the economy slide.You can also read more about the challenge of  renovations here.

I always wonder about the people that worked in the mills and how the conditions were there. Did they work 8 hours or were they 12 hour days? How did they see at night? And just how HOT did it get during the summer in the mill and the upper levels?

Do you have old mills near where you live?