National Register of Historic Places

Garland Mill

Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire
Listed
November 12, 1982
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
82000616

About this property

The Garland Mill is a historic sawmill on Garland Road in Lancaster, New Hampshire. Built about 1860, and repeatedly modified to adapt to growth and new technology, it is the only water-powered sawmill (a once-common sight) in the state. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The Garland Mill stands in a rural upland area of eastern Lancaster, on the west side of Garland Road at its junction with Pleasant Valley Road. The property is bisected by Garland Brook, which provides the mill's power. The mill is set astride the stream, separated from the main road by the mill pond and wooded area. A wooden crib dam with rock fill provides a drop of about 16 feet (4.9 m) at the eastern end of the building. The main mill is a broad single-story timber-framed structure. The interior is one large chamber, with large entrances on the north and south sides to facilitate the entry of logs and the exit of sawn lumber. A wooden penstock brings water to a turbine, from which a series of leather belts deliver power from the main shaft to the saws. The mill was built in 1860 by Eben Crocket Garland, and was a relatively successful small mill operation. It grew in the subsequent decades, its growth spurred by the arrival of railroad service to Lancaster. In 1870, it was one of 640 sawmills in the state. The mill was sold by Garland's son in 1888. It is now roughly three times the size of its original construction, and kept pace with technological changes through the mid-20th century, updating its turbines when more efficient ones became available. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. At the time of its listing it was still in operation as the only water-powered sawmill in the state. National Register of Historic Places listings in Coos County, New Hampshire

Location

Lancaster, Coos County, New Hampshire
44.47340, -71.48014

Categories

INDUSTRY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Garland Mill

This page lists Garland Mill. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Garland Mill report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Waumbek Cottages Historic District
Listed
3.9 mi
Weeks, William Dennis, Memorial Library
Industrial
4.6 mi
Weeks Estate
Industrial
4.7 mi
US Post Office-Lancaster Main
Industrial
4.9 mi
Wilder-Holton House
Industrial
5.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Garland Mill listed on the National Register?

Garland Mill was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 12, 1982.

What type of historic resource is Garland Mill?

Garland Mill is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Garland Mill?

The period of significance for Garland Mill is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Garland Mill?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Garland Mill will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Coos County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Coos County.

Explore CoosCounty ›

More historic places in New Hampshire

Browse all historic places in New Hampshire.

View New Hampshirehistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

New Hampshire history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

New Hampshirehistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Garland Mill will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report