Hanford Mill, Historic water-powered sawmill in East Meredith, New York.
Hanford Mill is a four-story wooden building constructed in the 1800s that housed sawing and woodworking operations powered by water from the stream. The structure contains much of its original machinery and equipment, arranged across multiple floors in a way that shows how work flowed through the mill.
The mill began in 1846 as a sawmill and grew into a larger manufacturing operation that produced various wood products for the region. Its growth reflected how communities in New York built their economy around water-powered industries in the 1800s.
The mill reflects how woodworking and local manufacturing shaped the community's identity and daily rhythms for over a century. Walking through the space, you can sense how this was a center of activity that brought people together and provided their livelihoods.
The site is walkable and visitors can move through the mill at their own pace to see the machinery and spaces. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for uneven floors and narrow staircases as you explore the interior.
The mill retains its original water wheel system and a series of linked machines that still demonstrate how power was transmitted from the stream to the equipment. Few nineteenth-century mills have kept all these mechanical components in working order for visitors to see.
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