Old Schwamb Mill

This is a fascinating historical place now owned and operated by a non-profit dedicated to preserving the 19th century buildings, machinery, skills, business records and sense of place. As a bonus, the mill contains a small art gallery and hosts musical performances and gallery and historical talks.
5 7 years ago (24-01-2018)

Old Schwamb Mill, site circa 1650, current complete structure c. 1861. Old Schwamb Mill is the nations oldest continuously operating mill site.. Originally a gristmill, this has been a workingplace since 1650. Its documented history of operation dates back to about 1684. It was bought by Charles & Frederick Schwamb, two brothers from Rhinehessen, Germany, in 1864 when it would become an Oval Photo Frame shop. They set up this state-of-the-art woodworking shop, combining water power from the Mill Brook with an 18 foot diameter water wheel & a belt-driven pulley-operated system of machines to produce the highest quality oval & circular frames. During the Civil War era, photography became extremely popular as many families wanted portraits of their loved ones who may never return. A particular favourite of many clients was a rich black Walnut oval frame. with delicate gold leafed liner. Schwamb Mill frames hung in hundreds of thousands of American mansions, farmhouses, &even lonely prairie sod huts. this original collection of Moulding knives dating back to 1870 was curated by the Smithsonian; they were so impressed they even tried to purchase them ! the Mill has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1971.
5 8 years ago (09-05-2017)