the pierce- hopkins mill sitethe pierce- hopkins mill site

the mill site The Pierce-Hopkins Mill was built after 1818 on the site of an early saw mill and fulling mill, probably by the Hopkins Family. As early as 1820, brothers Richard, Elliot, & Samuel Hopkins, were manufacturing cribs, cradles, spinning wheels and later, spinning wheel heads on the site. In 1858, Charles Atherton and Andrew Barrett were making spindles & wheel heads there. William Hopkins was producing spinning wheels. By the later years of the Civil War, Benjamin Pierce, possibly in partnership with Richard H. Hopkins, employed 75 hands in the manufacture of wheel heads, spinning and flax wheels, and brush handles in the mill. His son, Frederick B Pierce, carried on their manufacture. In 1880, he employed 15 to 25 hands. By this time manufacturing in Chesterfield Factory had greatly diminished. The railroad had by-passed hilly Chester-fi eld, the ready supply of timber had been consumed, and the use of steam to power mills meant that no longer were mill owners dependant on an adequate supply of water power. Fred Pierce moved his business to Keene. A succession of small businesses continued to use the mill building. William Hopkins built wooden boats. Frank and Austin Foster made tables. In 1922, Arthur Post and Theron Yost, in conjunction with Morris Friedsam, formed Hampshire Craftsmen to make fine furniture reproductions. For about 17 years, starting in 1966, Electrosonics produced early circuit boards for computers in the building. Offices, a furniture restoration workshop, and a reupholstering shop were the last occupants. The building was demolished in November 2005 in order to obtain access to soils contaminated by the waste from industrial activities during the late 20th century. The soils beneath the building were the source of groundwater contamination within the area surrounding the mill.

deep and two stories high. The section closest to the road, was built of reused timbers with a

the mill The structure of the Pierce-Hopkins Mill showed a succession of timber framing techniques. Built in 3 stages, the southern section, nearest the road, was 20 feet wide at the gable end and 65 feet

concrete foundation. The middle section, built about 1850, was 2 bays deep, constructed with timbers cut in an up and down sawmill. It had no ridge pole and the roof was wood shingle covered with slate. The earliest part was built in about 1830 with hand-hewn timbers using the “square rule” framing method. The roof had the original wood shingles covered with slate. The foundation was rubble stone.

The larger northern section was probably built around 1860, possibly to support the increased manufacture of wheel heads that characterized the period around the Civil War. It was 32 feet wide at the gable end and 43 feet deep. It had two and one-half stories, and three bays deep entirely built of circular sawn timbers. There were two Howe-type (wood & iron) queen trusses in the attic. This permitted an entirely open second floor. Again the roof was wood shingles covered by slate and the foundation, rubble stone. It had a full basement and a crawl space.

The Pierce-Hopkins Mill was one of the few remaining wood-framed, water-powered 19th century light industrial factories remaining in the State of New Hampshire. It was the last surviving mill building in the Village of Spofford, and in the Town of Chesterfield. Because of this, and the presence of the Pierce Shops, the structure was deemed eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Buildings.

spinning wheel head

1858 1976

Environmental Services

NEW HAMPSHIRE DEPARTMENT OF

sam’l wadsworth 1902