Daniel Cragin Mill: Difference between revisions
m corrected link |
copyedit + expanded a little |
||
| Line 14: | Line 14: | ||
| long_seconds = 20 |
| long_seconds = 20 |
||
| long_direction = W |
| long_direction = W |
||
| area = |
| area = |
||
| built = |
| built = 1858 |
||
| architect = |
| architect = |
||
| architecture = water-powered mill |
| architecture = water-powered mill |
||
| Line 23: | Line 23: | ||
| refnum =82001681 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-07-27|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> |
| refnum =82001681 <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-07-27|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> |
||
| mpsub = Business<br />Manufacturing Facility |
| mpsub = Business<br />Manufacturing Facility |
||
| governing_body = |
| governing_body = |
||
}} |
}} |
||
[[File:Shaker box tower.jpg|thumb|<center>Shaker style oval pantry boxes]] |
[[File:Shaker box tower.jpg|thumb|<center>Shaker style oval pantry boxes]] |
||
The '''Daniel Cragin Mill''', known today as the '''Frye's Measure Mill''', is a historic [[watermill]] established in 1858. The mill is about three miles west of the small town of [[Wilton, New Hampshire|Wilton]] in [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire]]. For over 150 years the mill's production has been [[Treen (wooden)|unique woodenware]] and |
The '''Daniel Cragin Mill''', known today as the '''Frye's Measure Mill''', is a historic [[watermill]] established in 1858. The mill is about three miles west of the small town of [[Wilton, New Hampshire|Wilton]] in [[Hillsborough County, New Hampshire]]. For over 150 years the mill's production has been [[Treen (wooden)|unique woodenware]] and wooden boxes used for [[Dry measure|dry measuring boxes]]. Presently the mill's main production is [[Shaker furniture|Shaker-style pantry boxes and furniture pieces]] for the various [[Shakers|Shaker communities]] and their museum gift shops. |
||
==History== |
==History== |
||
===Daniel Cragin era of 1858-1909=== |
===Daniel Cragin era of 1858-1909=== |
||
Daniel Cragin was of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent. At the age of 21 in 1856 he was renting a room in the Putnam Bobbin Factory near the present day Frye's Measure Mill |
Daniel Cragin was of [[Scottish people|Scottish]] descent. At the age of 21 in 1856 he was renting a room in the Putnam Bobbin Factory near the present day Frye's Measure Mill. Here he made knife trays and wooden toys that he turned into a full-time business. His initial cash investment to start the business was ten dollars. He soon turned a profit and in 1858 he purchased an existing small building at this site that eventually became known as the Daniel Cragin Mill. It was run on water power that came from two nearby water sources, Burton Pond and Nathan Barker's Pond.<ref name="Cragin"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/history1.html Daniel Cragin history]</ref> |
||
In 1878 Cragin added sugar boxes and dry measure boxes and hired six others into his enterprise.<ref>Livermore, p. 171</ref> He soon manufactured mostly [[dry measure]] boxes which was the main part of his [[millwright]] enterprise at this Wilton location. His |
In 1878 Cragin added sugar boxes and dry measure boxes and hired six others into his enterprise.<ref>Livermore, p. 171</ref> He soon manufactured mostly [[dry measure]] boxes which was the main part of his [[millwright]] enterprise at this Wilton location. His containers were made in five sizes. These were one quart, two quart, four quart, single peck, and one-half bushel. 1885 Cragin these in full sets, or "nests", that were bound in iron bands. The dry measure volume containers varnished, plain, depending on customer wants.<ref name="Cragin"/> |
||
Storekeepers, farmers, and fishermen needed a standard unit of measure for their trade products. This was so they could transact and carry on negotiations of their various commodities for bartering and selling. In the later part of the nineteenth century Cragin's reasonably priced dry measure containers were in much need for these various commercial entrepreneurs. He was able to sell many full set "nests". Sometime later the national standard of measurement switched over to weights and the market for his dry measure containers came to an end.<ref name="Cragin"/> |
Storekeepers, farmers, and fishermen needed a standard unit of measure for their trade products. This was so they could transact and carry on negotiations of their various commodities for bartering and selling. In the later part of the nineteenth century Cragin's reasonably priced dry measure containers were in much need for these various commercial entrepreneurs. He was able to sell many full set "nests". Sometime later the national standard of measurement switched over to weights and the market for his dry measure containers came to an end.<ref name="Cragin"/> |
||
===Whitney Frye era of 1909-1960=== |
===Whitney Frye era of 1909-1960=== |
||
In 1909 Whitney Morse Frye with his father, Dr. Edmund Bailey Frye, bought the mill from Daniel Cragin. The name of the mill then became E.B. Frye & Son. Frye was educated in engineering at Lowell Textile Institute and [[Dartmouth College]] and received an [[engineering]] degree. With this knowledge he redesigned and invented machinery and techniques for modern use to make the mill more productive. Frye continued the Cragin line of wooden trays, boxes, pails |
In 1909 Whitney Morse Frye with his father, Dr. Edmund Bailey Frye, bought the mill from Daniel Cragin. The name of the mill then became E.B. Frye & Son. Frye was educated in engineering at Lowell Textile Institute and [[Dartmouth College]] and received an [[engineering]] degree. With this knowledge he redesigned and invented machinery and techniques for modern use to make the mill more productive. Frye continued the Cragin line of wooden trays, boxes, pails . Later he added curry cards (combs for cattle), wool cards, ice cream freezers, and pantry boxes.<ref name="Frye"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/history2.html The Whitney Frye Era 1909-1961. Building the Self-Contained Mill.]</ref> |
||
Frye added [[hydroelectric power]] to |
Frye added [[hydroelectric power]] to mill. This was done by improving the existing water-power system to include a series of pipes from Burton Pond and Nathan Barker's Pond to provide a controlled water force, or "head", to maintain a system to generate electricity. It furnished the mill's electrical needs as well as the electricity for Frye's house.<ref name="Frye"/> |
||
===Harland Savage Sr. era of 1961-1981=== |
===Harland Savage Sr. era of 1961-1981=== |
||
Harland Savage Sr. was first employed as a part-time worker after [[World War II]]. He was soon promoted to a full-time employee and then in 1951 to the [[general manager]] of the mill. In 1961 he purchased the mill and operated it until 1981 when he retired. At that time his son Harley and his wife Pam Porter Savage took over operations. They have operated Frye's Measure Mill to the present day.<ref name="Savage"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/history3.html The Harland Savage, Sr. Years. The Skill of the Millwright, Handed Down 1948 to Present.]</ref> |
Harland Savage Sr. was first employed as a part-time worker after [[World War II]]. He was soon promoted to a full-time employee and then in 1951 to the [[general manager]] of the mill. In 1961 he purchased the mill and operated it until 1981 when he retired. At that time his son Harley and his wife Pam Porter Savage took over operations. They have operated Frye's Measure Mill to the present day.<ref name="Savage"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/history3.html The Harland Savage, Sr. Years. The Skill of the Millwright, Handed Down 1948 to Present.]</ref> |
||
In the late 1960s Shaker eldress Bertha Lindsay of the [[Canterbury Shaker Village]] asked Harland Savage Sr. if he would be interested in making Shaker-style oval boxes since their last box maker died in 1961. Frye's Measure Mill then added Shaker boxes to their line of Colonial boxes.<ref name="Lindsay"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/boxes.html Frye's Measure Mill Shaker Boxes.]</ref> |
In the late 1960s Shaker eldress Bertha Lindsay of the [[Canterbury Shaker Village]] asked Harland Savage Sr. if he would be interested in making Shaker-style oval boxes since their last box maker died in 1961. Frye's Measure Mill then added Shaker boxes to their line of Colonial boxes.<ref name="Lindsay"> [http://www.fryesmeasuremill.com/boxes.html Frye's Measure Mill Shaker Boxes.]</ref> |
||
==Footnotes== |
==Footnotes== |
||
Revision as of 18:53, 28 April 2009
Daniel Cragin Mill a.k.a. E.B. Frye & Son Frye's Measure Mill | |
 12 Frye Mill Road | |
| Location | west of town of Wilton at the junction of Davisville Road and Burton Hwy |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Wilton, New Hampshire |
| Area | >1 acre |
| Built | circa 1858 |
| Architectural style | water-powered mill |
| MPS | Business Manufacturing Facility |
| NRHP reference No. | 82001681 [1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 23, 1982 [2] |
The Daniel Cragin Mill, known today as the Frye's Measure Mill, is a historic watermill established in 1858. The mill is about three miles west of the small town of Wilton in Hillsborough County, New Hampshire. For over 150 years the mill's production has been unique woodenware and wooden boxes used for dry measuring boxes. Presently the mill's main production is Shaker-style pantry boxes and furniture pieces for the various Shaker communities and their museum gift shops. The mill was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
History
Daniel Cragin era of 1858-1909
Daniel Cragin was of Scottish descent. At the age of 21 in 1856 he was renting a room in the Putnam Bobbin Factory near the present day Frye's Measure Mill. Here he made knife trays and wooden toys that he turned into a full-time business. His initial cash investment to start the business was ten dollars. He soon turned a profit and in 1858 he purchased an existing small building at this site that eventually became known as the Daniel Cragin Mill. It was run on water power that came from two nearby water sources, Burton Pond and Nathan Barker's Pond.[3]
In 1878 Cragin added sugar boxes and dry measure boxes and hired six others into his enterprise.[4] He soon manufactured mostly dry measure boxes which was the main part of his millwright enterprise at this Wilton location. His hand made containers were made in five sizes. These were one quart, two quart, four quart, single peck, and one-half bushel. Because of his success in sales by 1885 Cragin began selling these in full sets, or "nests", that were bound in iron bands. The dry measure volume containers sold varnished, plain, and rough, depending on customer wants.[3]
Storekeepers, farmers, and fishermen needed a standard unit of dry measure for their trade products. This was so they could transact and carry on negotiations of their various commodities for bartering and selling. In the later part of the nineteenth century Cragin's reasonably priced dry measure containers were in much need for these various commercial entrepreneurs. He was able to sell many containers and full set "nests". Sometime later the national standard of measurement switched over to weights and the market for his dry measure containers used to measure units of volume of bulk commodities came to an end.[3]
Whitney Frye era of 1909-1960
In 1909 Whitney Morse Frye with his father, Dr. Edmund Bailey Frye, bought the mill from Daniel Cragin. The name of the mill then became E.B. Frye & Son. Frye was educated in engineering at Lowell Textile Institute and Dartmouth College and received an engineering degree. With this knowledge he redesigned and invented machinery and techniques for modern use to make the mill more productive. Frye continued the Cragin line of wooden trays, boxes, and pails in addition to his normal processing of grains. Later he added curry cards (combs for cattle), wool cards, ice cream freezers, and pantry boxes.[5]
Frye added hydroelectric power to the mill sometime later. This was done by improving the existing water-power system to include a series of pipes from Burton Pond and Nathan Barker's Pond to provide a controlled water force, or "head", to maintain a system to generate electricity. It furnished the mill's electrical needs as well as the electricity for Frye's nearby house.[5]
Harland Savage Sr. era of 1961-1981
Harland Savage Sr. was first employed as a part-time worker after World War II at the mill. He was soon promoted to a full-time employee and then in 1951 to the general manager of the mill. In 1961 he purchased the mill and operated it until 1981 when he retired. At that time his son Harley and his wife Pam Porter Savage took over operations. They have operated Frye's Measure Mill to the present day.[6]
In the late 1960s Shaker eldress Bertha Lindsay of the Canterbury Shaker Village asked Harland Savage Sr. if he would be interested in making Shaker-style oval boxes since their last skilled pantry box maker died in 1961. Frye's Measure Mill then added Shaker style boxes to their line of Colonial boxes and distribute to all the Shaker communities for their gift shop sales.[7]
Footnotes
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-07-27.
- ^ New Hampshire's 2008 Seven to Save
- ^ a b c Daniel Cragin history
- ^ Livermore, p. 171
- ^ a b The Whitney Frye Era 1909-1961. Building the Self-Contained Mill.
- ^ The Harland Savage, Sr. Years. The Skill of the Millwright, Handed Down 1948 to Present.
- ^ Frye's Measure Mill Shaker Boxes.
Sources
- Livermore, Abiel Abbot et al, History of the Town of Wilton, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, Marden & Rowell Printers. Published 1888. Lowell, Massachusetts