meacham's mill, shenipsic lake road near hare road
Meacham's mill. Courtesy of Tolland Historical Society
Waterway: Charter’s Brook
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw, shingle, grist, spool turning mill
Water power: Overshot wheel
Mill type: Saw, shingle, grist, spool turning mill
History: This original mill was constructed in the early 1800s by Enoch Meacham, to power his saw, shingle and grist mills. Charles Meacham, grandson of Enoch, continued with the business, later adding an operation for making spools of birch wood for the Willimantic Thread Company. The dam was breached in 1869 and rebuilt downstream in a new location in proximity to the old dam.
Site Characteristics: Both dams were on-stream dams. The first dam had a mill building in proximity to the dam and used an overshot wheel. There was a similar configuration when the dam was rebuilt. Only scattered remnants of the mill buildings exist today and the dam has been breached on the west side of the 150 foot dam for many years.
Additional Sources of Information: “Lost Mill Sites in Tolland, Connecticut,” 2013, by Richard N. Symonds, Jr.
Site Characteristics: Both dams were on-stream dams. The first dam had a mill building in proximity to the dam and used an overshot wheel. There was a similar configuration when the dam was rebuilt. Only scattered remnants of the mill buildings exist today and the dam has been breached on the west side of the 150 foot dam for many years.
Additional Sources of Information: “Lost Mill Sites in Tolland, Connecticut,” 2013, by Richard N. Symonds, Jr.
Dam remnants looking upstream
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Meacham's mill and dam. Courtesy of the Tolland Historical Society
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