In downtown Laconia is the historic Belknap Mill (the "k" is silent).
Mr. Brown Sign decided at 4:20 p.m. one day it was a good thing to go see (closes at 5:00 p.m.).
We are happy to oblige! The water and the power it generates operated the mill.
It is the oldest mill still in operation, and the only one that never changed production: socks.
The building on the right was just bought by a man in California. He is able to fix the generators, and now sells electricity to the state of New Hampshire.
This is a sock machine. Volunteers come in a few times a month and make socks.
The socks are really Dr. Seuss-ish. These were my favorite!
This is made from the machines' needles.
A view into the past - hard, hard work.
This is one of the more hands-on area part of the mill - especially fun for younger kids!
This is my husband's favorite part: Underneath the mill floor where the water comes in. Where the eels use to be. Children were paid pennies per eel, if they could catch them on the riverbank, as the eels jammed the gears.
A particularly nice view of the gears in motion.
In downtown Laconia is the historic Belknap Mill (the "k" is silent).
Mr. Brown Sign decided at 4:20 p.m. one day it was a good thing to go see (closes at 5:00 p.m.).
We are happy to oblige! The water and the power it generates operated the mill.
It is the oldest mill still in operation, and the only one that never changed production: socks.
This is a sock machine. Volunteers come in a few times a month and make socks.
A view into the past - hard, hard work.
This is one of the more hands-on area part of the mill - especially fun for younger kids!
This is my husband's favorite part: Underneath the mill floor where the water comes in. Where the eels use to be. Children were paid pennies per eel, if they could catch them on the riverbank, as the eels jammed the gears.
A particularly nice view of the gears in motion.
6 comments:
Now that’s one way to rid the river of eels, just run them through the gears down at the old mill. Eels look too much like snakes for me, “I hate snakes”.
Bro. B
HEY. Did you leave NH? On your way home???
So glad I got to see you!
Looks like I need to pay more attention to all the brown signs in our area. There are so many things we take for granted in our own little city and surrounding areas.
A nice view indeed!
I'm embarrased to say that I've never been there. My kids all have - the school takes field trips there. Thanks to you and your pictures, I feel like I've been there now. :)
Cool! Never expected you to say "socks" when the post started about mills. Funny! Looks like a great half hour tour.
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