Dorchester-Milton Lower Mills Industrial District, Industrial district at Neponset River, Massachusetts.
The Dorchester-Milton Lower Mills Industrial District sits on both sides of the Neponset River and contains sixteen brick buildings with various additions and extensions. The structures display a mix of Second Empire, Queen Anne, and Romanesque Revival styles built between 1868 and 1947.
Walter Baker & Company built the first major chocolate production facility in the United States at this site, operating from 1765 until 1965. Before English settlers arrived, members of the Massachusett tribe lived in the area where the first grist mill for corn processing was later constructed.
The name reflects the two towns connected by this mill district, and the buildings show how factory workers once shaped daily life here. The structures reveal how communities grew around industrial labor and the processing of goods.
The buildings now mix retail spaces and apartments while keeping their original structure, creating a blend of old and new uses. The best time to explore is a quiet weekday when you can view the architecture and river setting without crowds.
The Walter Baker chocolate factory was more than just a production site; it became a symbol of rising American industry in the 1800s. Few visitors know that the factory introduced improvements in working conditions that were unusual for industry at that time.
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