George Olney Machine Shop, Great Road, Saylesville, Kent County, RI

Significance: Goerge Olney constructed the mill by 1812 and his machine shop produced textiles initially, although later wagons and wagon wheels were made there. Blacksmithing also took place. Work was facilitated by the water wheel, dam and mill pond. Arnold Moffitt, who bought the mill in 1850, replaced the water wheel with a turbine and upgraded the dam with masonry work. Architecturally the building had features of houses (mostly on the back, with sash windows for instances) and of barns (on the front). (See Buildings of Rhode Island, p. 196)

Survey number: HABS RI-90

Building/structure dates: before 1812 Initial Construction

machine shops mills fieldstone wood structural frames lintels gable roofs metal tie rods clapboard siding kent county olney machine shop george olney machine shop great great road saylesville providence county american memory historic american buildings survey arnold moffitt george j vaillancourt photo ultra high resolution high resolution rhode island industrial facilities library of congress

1933 - 1970

Library of Congress

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