Society for Industrial Archeology · New England Chapters Reports on efforts at conservation, re­ VOLUME 14 NUMBER 2 1994 Call For Papers for the Eight Annual use, or public education or advocacy CONTENTS relating to industrial archeological Conference on New England resources are welcome. Video presenta­ Call For Papers 1 Industrial Archeology tions or poster displays will also be con­ President's ReJ:?Ort. NNEC 1 sidered.Given the location of tb.e President's Report, SNEC 2 To be held February 4, 1995 Conference, papers relating to maritime Editorial 3 Boston Naval Shipyard lA topics are particularly welcome. Andover and Wilmington R.R. 4 Charlestown, Massachusetts Fanconia Furnace Recording Proposals should be submitted by Project 4 The annual winter conference of the Eli Whitney Museum Mounts December 31, 1994. Those interested in New Exhibit 5 Northern and Southern New England presenting should submit a title and pro­ Report of Historic Ironmaking Chapters of the Society for Industrial posed one- or two-page abstract to: Conference 6 Archeology will be held at the Michael Steinitz, Paper Chair, 167 Tug Restoration Planned 7 Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston on Willow Ave., Somerville, MA 02144. Connecticut Industrial Archeology Saturday, February 4, 1995. The Boston FAX 617 727-5128; Phone 617 727- Bibliography 8 Naval Shipyard is a national Landmark, 8470 (weekdays), 617 628-2786 Vermont 11 part of the Boston National Historic (home). Book on Vermont Archeology Park, the home of the U.S.S. Wins Award 11 Constitution. The Shipyard includes a Rolando Sells Milestone Copy President,s Report, NNEC significant array of lA sites and of his Book 12 resources not normally open to the pub­ Approximately thirty people gathered in lic. The ongoing restoration of the Manchester, New Hampshire, on NORTHERN CHAPfER OFFICERS Constitution by the U.S. Navy involves Saturday, May 28, for the NNEC-SIA Woodard Openo, President the use of historic maritime industrial Spring Meeting and Tour. The atten­ Richard Borges, 1st Vice President materials, technologies, tools and dees assembled fJtSt at the Manchester Kate Donahue, 2nd Vice President machinery. Conference activities will Historic Association for orientation, Walter Ryan, Treasurer include an afternoon tour and program Krista Butterfield. Secretary then departed for the Amoskeag relating to the lA of the Shipyard and Hydroelectric Station. SOUTHERN CHAPTER OFFICERS the work under way on the Constitution. Michael Steinitz, President Amoskeag Station was constructed in Matt Kierstead. Program chair Papers for the conference are invited by 1935 by the Manchester Power and Tom Vaughan, Jr., Secretary professional and avocational industrial Light Company, which had purchased Jack Yerkes, Treasurer archeology enthusiasts on the full range the water rights from the Amoskeag of lA topics, preferably with a New Manufacturing Co. It is a 15 MW sta­ EDITOR England focus. Papers relating to tion that is now fully automated, has a David Starbuck research on, or field investigation of POBox 147 46' head (the drop in water elevation industrial sites, structures or equipment Fort Edward. NY 12828 from the top of the dam to the bottom), and their historic contexts are invited. and is a "run of river" plant which pro­ engine was designed to pump water up presence of the itinerant ironmaster, motes public recreation. Attendees split to 40' in elevation to farmhouses before Senaca Pettee, as suggested by Bill into groups for a tour of the plant. the days of rural electrification. Also on Edwards (of Richmond Furnace, MA, Among the tour leaders was Bill Dodge, display was a remarkable steamship experience). The furnace, which is -- PSNH hydro department electrician, built by the Eckdahls. The shop was about 31' tall as it stands, had been who gave a complete tour of the facility adorned with nostalgia-old oil and cleared of brush by several local people, from the turbine floor to the control pan­ gasoline signs, and original New but was considered too unstable for els to the underground tunnel that pass­ Hampshire license plates dating from Krista Butterfield (or anyone else, for es under the dam. The recently-con­ about 1910 through 1970 strung circum­ that matter) to examine the top. Other structed fish ladder was also viewed. ferentially around the shop in chrono­ structural remains include a wall sug­ 1brough the glass viewing ports, one logical order. From 10' flywheels to gesting a millrace and a depression could see Atlantic salmon, river herring, gasoline washing machines, it was cer­ which may have held the bellows engine American shad, and sea lamprey, all of tainly a site at which to reflect on tech­ for the furnace. A good time was had by which live in oceans but spawn in fresh nological change (Henry Ford would all, and a good start was made in study­ water. The station tour culminated with have loved this place). John Mayer was ing the site. viewing of exhibits at the small hydro largely responsible for this very success­ facility museum. ful day. On September 23, a memorial service for Bill Taylor was held at Plymouth The group was then given a brief tour of From September 9-11 (Friday through State College in Plymouth, New the Amoskeag Millyard by John Mayer, Sunday), the Chapter conducted an Hampshire, where he taught for many Director of the Manchester Historic archeological survey of the Franconia years. A large crowd of friends from the Association. The Amoskeag Manufac­ ironworks site in Franconia, New Chapter, the College, the Division of turing Company was organized in 1830 Hampshire, led by the affable ironman, Historical Resources, past and recent by the Boston Associates. It grew to Vic Rolando. Thee .octagonal granite students, people from all over the state include over thirty mill buildings, furnace stands on the west side of the and every walk of life attended. His stretching for 1-1/2 miles along the east Gale River, opposite the village down­ daughter, a number of colleagues and bank of the Merrimack River. At its town. Participants ranged in number friends recalled his life in brief talks for peak, thee company employed 17,000 from about eight to fifteen on the differ­ this "Celebration of William Taylor's workers and was the largest textile mill ent days, and preliminary mapping was Life." We will all remember Bill with in the world. It closed in 1935. Many of done with the help of equipment loaned affection and respect. its buildings have been adapted to new by the New Hampshire Division of uses. Historical Resources. The weather The most recent planned activity of the cooperated (rain threatened, but never NNEC-SIA was a visit to the Mt. The group had lunch at the Granite really materialized), and participants Washington Cog Railway on Saturday, Street Bar and Grille, a restaurant situat­ were treated to a great free breakfast at October 15, organized by Krista ed in the original Amoskeag Mill com­ Polly's (on the road to Sugar Hill) one Butterfield, Chapter Secretary. plex. The delicious lunch was accompa­ morning, and a delicious supper was nied by the business meeting. hosted by the Franconia Area Heritage Woodard D. Openo Council on Saturday night. This was Somersworth, N.H. In the afternoon, attendees had the followed by an informative and enter­ opportunity to see Elroy and Carlton taining slide lecture on ironmaking by Ekdahl's shop and engine collection. Vic. The council has created a visitors' President's Report, SNEC This unique shop is a showpiece for its center on the river bank opposite the fur­ owners' passion for antiquities-not just nace and has done much to raise local This past May, the Northern and the engines themselves, but also antique awareness of the need for its preserva­ Southern New England Chapters again chain saws and other power tools, black­ tion. Ms. Jewell Friedman of the held a joint recording weekend at the smithing equipment, a steam engine for Council, among others, helped to coor­ Richmond Iron Works site in drilling and pumping oil wells (with a dinate the weekend project and provide Richmond, Massachusetts. While last flywheel about 10' in diameter!), and a logistical support. The owner of the year's efforts focused on the furnace gasoline washing machine complete property on which the furnace stands area, this season's work shifted to the with meat grinder and butter churn was also most supportive. nearby Klondike Mine area, a dynamite attachments (does it brush your teeth, lA site in itself. After nearly eighty too?). The Eckdahls demonstrated an The furnace has the inscription "S. years of open-pit mining, the Richmond external combustion engine as well; this Pettee, Jr. 1859," memorializing the 2 company sank a 150-foot shaft here in he is working with Old Mill News to get The tour was followed by a brief busi­ 1905 and was soon extracting ten to information out on the mill to a wider, ness meeting and election of officers in twelve thousand tons of ore annually via national audience. Ben Pierson himself the GE parking lot. Officers for 1994- two miles of underground railroad. The is a national treasure, and we're grateful 95 are: Michael Steinitz, President (this operations included washing and crush­ that he took the time to lead us through is the last time, folks); Matt Kierstead, ing plants, a powerhouse, a timber­ his mill. Program Chair; Tom Vaughan, frame rail incline, and a shaft house. Secretary; and Jack Yerkes, Treasurer. The foundations and fragments of this Sadly, a second Newbury snuff mill, Thanks to Matt and Tom for pitching in long abandoned operation remain as evi­ now owned by the Town, is suffering to help keep the Chapter going, and to dence of an extensive system of interre­ from deterioration and neglect, open to Jack for his continued great work as lated activities that included numerous vandals and the elements.