Lebanon's Old Grist Mill is the oldest surviving industrial building in town. Built by Joseph Hardison, the large rectangular mill sits on a massive foundation of dry laid stone five feet thick tapering to a width of two feet under the sills of the building. The two-story mill is typical of eighteenth-century construction with a gabled roof, framed with heavy hand hewn timbers, and a double thickness of hardwood for flooring. Like many places in rural Maine, the mill harnessed the power of a stream for manufacturing. It was originally a grist mill, but a multitude of additions throughout the years turned the structure into a multi-purpose establishment which also milled timber. During the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries the mill also informally served as the village center and public meeting place. It was the only known grist mill to survive the 1785 freshet and provided an important service while other mills were rebuilt. Currently, it is a mixed-use establishment housing an antique store and several apartments.
Year Listed: 1975
For more information: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/AssetDetail?assetID=36df63d8-49b7-4312-a8fc-82c3117145d2