1. Wakefield Industrial Sites Archaeological Survey Prepared for the Wakefield Heritage Commission By Sheila Charles, MA Victoria Bunker, PhD Dennis Howe With contributions by David Trubey, MA and Abbie Young August 2011
2. Town Wide Archaeological Survey & Sensitivity Assessment to Document Historic Mill Sites Funded by a Preservation Grant Followed NHDHR guidelines, in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act Phase 1A Archaeological Reconnaissance Historic research and archaeological field investigations of a visible mill resources (max. 20), including above ground and submerged archeological elements
3. Historic archaeology is an important research method for discovering evidence of the past, including Wakefield’s first settlers, farmers, tavern keepers, Revolutionary & Civil War veterans, and millers and industrialists! Solving the Mysteries of the Past!
7. Oral History Interviews The following historians, town residents, and agency representatives contributed to the success of this project: Amanda Bevard Peter Brown, Wakefield Heritage Commission Russell Chick Beryl Donovan, Wakefield Gafney Library Director Lisa Dudley Fr. Edmund, St. Anthony Church, Wakefield Dr. James Garvin, State Architectural Historian, NH Division of Historical Resources Gina Golden Ann (Paul) Hatch Maurice Hatch Tucker Herbarick Pamela Judge, Wakefield Heritage Commission Peter Kasprzyk,Wakefield Heritage Commission Cathy Kinville Randy Kinville Roger Kinville Ronald Kinville Tanya Krajdik, Records Coordinator, NH Division of Historical Resources Jennifer Rich, Wakefield Gafney Library Assistant Snooky Shea, Wakefield Heritage Commission Dr. Leith Smith, Historic Sites Archeologist, Maine Historic Preservation Commission Dr. Arthur Speiss, State Archeologist, Maine Historic Preservation Commission
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9. Ground truthingof mill locations depicted on historic maps or known by residents.
10. Recording details of historic foundations, dams, penstocks, race-ways, other archaeological features, as well as the terrain, vegetation, and landscape alterations.
12. Drawing scaled and measured maps of visible surface features and architectural elements.No subsurface excavation or artifact recovery was undertaken.
13. Research disclosed five discrete industrial clusters in Wakefield. Dorr’s Pond and Woodman Pine river pond and north Wakefield Great East Lake, Horn Pond and Salmon Falls River Lovell Lake, Upper Branch and Sanbornville Branch River and Union Each of these zones contained mills spanning multiple decades. Some mills were small family operations, while others were large corporate owned establishments.
14. Identified Historic Industrial Sites include: Campbell Mill Site (Outlet Belleau Lake) Alfred Woodman Mill Site (Unnamed stream , Woodman) Libby & Woodman – Chick Mill Site (Unnamed stream, Woodman) Pine River Pond Dam & Lumber Company Site (Outlet Pine River Pond) Pine Brook Mill Site (Pine Brook) Brackett’s Shingle Mill Site (Unnamed stream flowing to Lovell Lake) Lovell Lake Dam ( Outlet Lovell Lake) Sanborn Mill Site (Branch River) Sanborn Dam Site (Branch River) Marsh Road Site (Branch River) Union Meadows Dam (Branch River) Great East Lake Site (Outlet Great East Lake) Horn Pond Mill Site (Outlet Horn Pond) Wiggin Mill Site (Salmon Falls River) Drew Mill Site (Branch River, Union) Union Upper Dam Site (Branch River, Union) Union Middle Dam Site (Branch River, Union) Union Lower Dam Site (Branch River, Union)
59. Wakefield’s industrial history and archaeological manifestations are special, locally distinctive and significant. Archaeological research will continue to reveal new information, deepening our understanding and appreciation of Wakefield’s unique heritage. RESULTS
