Discover Vermont’s lost world of water-powered factories, frozen in time

Granville’s Bowl Mill Survives Vermont’s Industrial Transformation

Granville, Vermont began with a bold offer in 1781: 100 free acres for women and families tough enough to settle there.

The Hemenway brothers seized this chance in 1857, building a water-powered factory for butter tubs along the White River.

Soon after, they switched to wooden bowls using custom lathes. By 1870, mill workers lived in six row houses as the business grew.

Even now, five original worker homes still stand. At Moss Glen Falls, you can witness this remarkable slice of Vermont’s industrial past firsthand.

Free Land Drew Settlers to Granville in 1781

Vermont officials came up with a smart plan in 1781 to get people to move to Kingston.

They gave away 100 acres of free land to the first women and families willing to live in this rough mountain area. The offer worked.

Brave folks moved in, cut down trees, built homes, and started farms. The town later changed its name to Granville as more people settled in this White River valley.

Hemenway Brothers Built a Factory by the River in 1857

R.N. and Daniel Hemenway spotted an opportunity in 1857 when they saw the White River’s power.

They built the Granville Manufacturing Company next to the rushing water, using its force to run machines that made butter tubs.

Their factory quickly became the center of the local economy.

Workers came from all around to get jobs at the mill, and the town grew around this busy spot. The river current stayed strong enough year-round to turn their water wheels.

Wooden Bowls Replaced Butter Tubs in 1860

The Hemenway brothers stopped making butter tubs and started making wooden bowls in 1860.

They created special lathes that turned chunks of wood into smooth, round bowls. No other nearby company had machines like these.

Customers loved these sturdy kitchen items. Soon, people throughout Vermont and beyond knew “Granville bowls” for their quality and toughness.

Water Rushed Through Sluices to Power the Machines

Mill owners built a dirt dam upstream to control the White River’s flow. This clever system turned flowing water into power for saws, lathes, and other tools.

They dug channels called sluices that sent water straight into turbines inside the three-story mill building.

The river did work that would otherwise need dozens of men or costly steam engines, making production faster and cheaper.

Rice Family Added Clapboards in 1913 for House Siding

The Rice family bought the Granville Manufacturing Company from the Hemenways in 1913. They kept making the popular wooden bowls but started making clapboards for house siding too.

They worked with the Lane Company of Montpelier to design a special saw that cut wood at just the right angle. This saw made clapboards that lasted longer and looked better than others on the market.

The Great Flood of 1927 Washed Away the Dam

Vermont’s worst natural disaster hit in November 1927 when huge floods tore through the state. The raging waters destroyed the Granville Dam and 1,258 bridges across Vermont.

The flood killed 84 people and caused $35 million in damage. Homes washed away, roads vanished, and towns found themselves cut off from help.

The mill building survived, but the power system that ran it for decades was gone forever.

Electricity Replaced Water Power After the Flood

The mill survived the 1927 flood, but needed a new power source. Workers switched from waterpower to electric motors that ran the same old machines.

They rebuilt the Zenas King bridge, which became the only way to reach the mill from Granville Corners.

This metal bridge carried workers, supplies, and finished products across the river that once powered the factory.

Old Machines Kept Working Through the 20th Century

While other factories bought new equipment, the Granville mill kept using its 1800s machinery.

The old lathes, saws, and planers continued making wooden bowls and clapboards just as they had for generations.

The quality of handmade items from these vintage machines helped the mill stand out in a time of mass production and plastic goods.

Bob Fuller Carried on Bowl-Making Traditions in 1981

Bob Fuller and his family took over the Granville Manufacturing Company in 1981, taking care of not just a business but a living piece of Vermont’s industrial history.

They learned the old methods from retiring workers and kept making traditional bowls and clapboards.

Fuller fixed the historic machinery, finding ways to repair equipment that hadn’t been made in nearly a century.

Five Worker Houses Still Stand as Homes Today

Five of the original mill worker houses remain standing along Granville’s main road.

These homes now belong to private families who maintain the historic structures. The houses serve as a visible reminder of the town’s industrial past.

The mill that once employed dozens and shipped products throughout New England represents a bygone era when small water-powered factories dotted Vermont’s rivers.

Visiting Moss Glen Falls, Grantville

You can park free along Route 100 in Granville and walk the short boardwalk to see Moss Glen Falls drop 45-50 feet over moss-covered rocks.

The Bowl Mill Store at 45 Mill Road runs daily tours from 9AM-5PM showing how wooden bowls were made in the 1800s.

Their original 1858 mill equipment still works, though electricity replaced water power. Five worker houses from the 1870s remain along the main road.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

Read more from this brand:

• The lost French village of Hocquart: Vermont’s first European settlement
• A soggy camping trip created the template for every major hiking trail in America
• “Live free or die”: The remarkable story behind New Hampshire’s famous motto