Appendix H - Historical Archaeological and ... - CBP.gov

Industry and Manufacturing
The region’s waterways and excellent mill privileges stimulated a strong industrial base in the
region. Waterpower was first harnessed to run saw and gristmills. Later, waterpower supported
the growth of the textile industry in early-nineteenth century. Industrial activity provided for
other village, town, and national community needs. Early industries generally spanned in scope
from small, self-sufficient operations to larger commercial enterprises. Local industry relied
heavily on readily available natural resources such as timber, bedrock, minerals, surficial
deposits, and water.
Primitive roads were built into once-inaccessible forests followed by logging railroads. Major
rivers, smaller tributaries and the outlets of lakes and ponds across New Hampshire and Vermont
provided waterpower for the vast majority of energy necessary to produce and/or refine these
products. Logging camps predated construction of the Rutland & Burlington Railroad in the late
1840s. Industry was, and remains, a vital force of northern New England’s economy. Many
residential sites are closely associated with nearby industries, whether cottage enterprise or large
commercial businesses. Location of former industrial complexes may, or may not, be evident on
today's modern landscape.
Many of the remaining industries in nearby hamlets still relied heavily upon agricultural pursuits
that were part of a diversified economy that was gradually becoming more specialized: cider
mills, sawmills, gristmills, and cheese factories. Initially, any surplus milk was turned into
cheese; however, as rail transportation to urban markets improved, butter and then cream became
the premium products. The wood-products industry remained active in northern New England
because the forests of New Hampshire had not yet been completely cleared as they had in other
parts of New England.
Commerce and Trade
Settlers made most of what they needed, if not by themselves, almost certainly within their
community. Whatever skills were not locally available, like shoemaking, were generally
provided by barter or purchase from neighbors or itinerant craftsmen. Many farmers undertook
some type of specialized activity when not engaged in agricultural pursuits. These skills ranged
from working as a homebuilder or mason, cooper, wheelwright, blacksmithing, ferrier, basket
maker, potter, and so on. Clay was fashioned and fired into bricks and pottery. Settlers also
prospected for stone to build foundations for homes, to mark lot boundaries, and to support early
industries. Local bog iron or hematite ore was smelted into iron, supplying early blacksmiths
and later industrial purposes.
Towns gradually became responsible for the maintenance of other local roads as soon as they
were surveyed, laid out, and officially entered onto town records (Garvin and Garvin, 1988;
Hance, 1991). Later, bridges were constructed to access other routes where perhaps only fords
existed. Economic and regional growth patterns ultimately dictated the evolution of a growing
road framework.
Near the end of the nineteenth century investors were building grand hotels along coastal areas,
in the mountains and surrounding the lakes of New Hampshire to serve tourists from all over the
Northern Border Activities H-74 July 2012