Hatch Mill just listed on NRHP

[Roy F. Kirby]

MARSHFIELD – The Hatch Homestead and Mill Historic District in Marshfield has been accepted by the
National Park Service, Department of the Interior, for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.

The Hatch Mill, built in 1753, is the last remaining water-powered saw mill on the North River. During the 18th century the mill played an integral part of the bustling ship building industry. We are just three carpenters who wanted to give back and save a peice of our heritage.

The Hatch Mill Restoration & Preservation Group, Inc. is a non-profit volunteer driven organization created to restore Marshfield's Hatch Mill into an operational, educational and historically preserved site.

In 2004, the Hatch Mill Restoration and Preservation Group, Inc. (a 501(c)3) was formed and negotiated the sale of 3.5 acres, two historic buildings, and a pond on Union Street from the Marshfield Historical Society for one dollar. That winter work began on a new temporary roof for the Mill that had been in operation from the 1700s to the 1960s. Not only had this site, unlike Plimoth Plantation or Sturbridge Village, been in actual operation on its original location, its woodcutting technology was six centuries old.

Marshfield High School students then became involved in the Mill's restoration, and even made an award-winning documentary in 2007 ("Hatch Mill Remembering Our Past") about their work there. That documentary in turn helped to facilitate a grant from the Marshfield CPA for $120,250 the same year, followed by a $50,000 matching grant from the Massachusetts Historical Commission to be used for the
initial stabilization of the structure.
Thus far, in the last three years, the students at Marshfield High have dismantled the attached carriage shed at the Mill, recreated its post and beam structure, and brought it back to the site and "barn-raised" it again in its original location. Lumber for the shed was donated by Copeland & Sons saw mill, thank you Dean.

Preparations such as these are in conjunction with the July visit to Marshfield of many Hatch family members as part of their family reunion. Additionally, Scituate Federal Savings Bank has announced a Dollar for Dollar Fundraising Campaign.
Between April 1, 2010 and September 1, 2010 the Bank will match, dollar-for-dollar, contributions generated by the Hatch Mill Restoration and Preservation Group, Inc.

Dr. David Stinebeck of Marshfield, will be the Chairman of the Campaign. Dr. Stinebeck earned a PhD. in American Studies from Yale University and is the former Dean of Liberal Arts at Quinnipiac University as well as a former Interim
President, Provost, and Trustee at Albright College. He will be assisted by Roy Kirby, the 2003 Marshfield Citizen of the Year and longtime investor of time and labor into the Mill's restoration. We welcome your interest at www.hatchmill.org

Roy F. Kirby

[Magicman]

Well, good for you, and thanks for your contribution of helping preserve a piece of history.

Welcome to The Forestry Forum.

[Dave Shepard]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum! I've bookmarked your site, and will keep an eye on your progress.

[bandmiller2]

Thats good news Roy,I used to hunt rail birds along the North river in my youth, never thought their was enough drop on the river to run a mill.Of course I was in the tidal section of the river.Is the saw machinery reasonably complete?Usally the only thing left of the old mills is the stonework.Frank C.

[Roy F. Kirby]

Frank, Thanks for your interest. The Hatch Mill was feed from 4 ponds with Hatch family saw mills at each one, all flowed to Two Mile Brook, then into the North River.'

1647 Early Hatch Settlement
1753 started as a grist mill
1812 turned into a Brest Water Wheel up and down sash saw
1859 box mill added, made boxes for soldier's boots
1872 turbine and circular saw installed
1965 Decker Hatch retried,  after 2 1/2 century's in the Hatch Family
1968 Bought by Marshfield Historical Society
2004 Hatch Mill Restoration & Preservation Group Inc. bought the 3.5 acres,
2 historical buildings and the pond it for one dollar
2008 finished phase # 1 of emergency stabilization.
2009 Listed on The National Register of Historical Places
2010 Starting fundraising for phase # 2 of the emergency stabilization.

www.hatchmill.org