in Tolland county
Lost Mill Sites
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  • Mansfield, CT
    • CONANTVILLE MILL
    • Gurleyville Mill
    • Mansfield Organ Pipe Mill
    • Mason’s Mill
    • Merrow Mill
  • Stafford, CT
    • Brook's Mill
  • Tolland, CT
    • Bone Mill
    • Brooks' Mill
    • Clark's Mill
    • Crandall's Mill
    • Donkeyville Mill
    • Gager's Mill
    • Geci's
    • Grant's Mill
    • Grover's Mill
    • Kaman's Mill
    • Meacham's Mill
    • Metcalf's Mill
    • Schoolhouse Brook Mill Site
    • Skungamaug River Mill Site
    • Skungamaug River Mill Site (Lower)
    • Slater's Mill
    • Sumner's Mill
    • Tourtelotte Mill
  • Willington, CT
    • Amidon Mill
    • Bishop's Mill
    • Brown's Mill
    • Button Factory/Saw Mill
    • Daleville Mill
    • D. Eldredge's Saw Mill
    • Eldredge Mills
    • Hall’s Mill
    • Joinery/Silk Mill
    • Kalbac’s Mill
    • Lillibridge Mill
    • Mill on Eldredge Brook
    • Mill on Ruby Brook
    • Mill on Stiles Brook
    • Parizek's Brothers' Mill
    • Peck's Mill
    • Sharp's Mill
    • Stiles' Mill
    • Tinkerville - Forest Mill
    • Undocumented Mill Site - Roaring Brook
    • Unnamed Mill Site - Conant Brook
  • COVENTRY, CT
    • CLARK'S MILL
    • DEPOT ROAD MILL
    • HUNTINGTON MILL
    • LEEVE MILL
  • Hebron, CT
    • Factory Hollow Mill
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button factory/saw mill, off route 74, willington hollow 

PictureSaw mill site George's Brook
Waterway: George's  Brook             

Water power: Most likely an overshot wheel

Mill type: Saw and button factory


 History: About 800 feet upstream of Amidon’s mill on George’s Brook was an unnamed saw mill and abalone button factory. At this writing it is unclear as to who operated the saw mill.  While most Willington button factories produced the light ocean pearl buttons, this mill produced deeper colored buttons from the abalone shells.  Little information exists on when the saw mill was constructed. It was an early saw mill known to be in operation circa 1869. At this writing, additional information has been located. It will be added when verified.

Site Characteristics: The mill used water power from a small pond on George’s Brook created by a 160 foot stone dam oriented in a north south direction. The pond area, clearly visible on 1934 aerial photos, is now totally filled in behind the dam and has returned to a wetland and field condition. Remnants of the dam and mill site buildings remain today. It is unclear if water power was used for this button factory in addition to the saw mill. The remnants of an old saw mill on the east end of the site and a dam upstream are clearly visible. The mill site was a fairly intricate site requiring an 800 foot sluiceway to power the mill. Its characteristics are indicative that the site may have supported additional mill activities. The construction methods used typical of those used in the late 1700s and early to mid-1800s suggesting that there may have been an early mill there.

    Additional Sources of Information: Upcoming book on Willington’s Lost Mill Sites


Picture
Old mill dam
Picture
Mill remnants - early constrution
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