Mill Pond Park Named at the Old Schwamb Mill

On Sunday, June 23, the Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington hosted a ceremony to formally name "Mill Pond Park," located on the Schwamb Mill site, 17 Mill Lane in Arlington, Massachusetts. Mill Pond Park was dedicated in memory to Patricia C. Fitzmaurice, whose foresight and swift action saved the Old Schwamb Mill for generations to come. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of the Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust, which continues operating the mill-museum today.

A commemorative stone and granite bench recognizing Ms. Fitzmaurice's work was unveiled at the ceremony. Invited guests heard remarks from Edward W. Gordon, Director of Museum Programs at the Old Schwamb Mill; Adam Chapdelaine, Town Manager, Arlington, Massachusetts; Clarissa Rowe, Old Schwamb Mill Advisory Council and past member of the Arlington Select Board and Community Preservation Committee; historian Richard Duffy, Old Schwamb Mill Advisory Council and past member of the Arlington Historical Commission; and Dermot Whittaker, President of the Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust, Inc. The reception also featured tours of the Mill and jazz, blues and swing music by the Seasmoke Trio of Kittery, Maine. David W. Graf, the Mill’s outstanding artisan woodturner, also performed with the group

The Old Schwamb Mill is a rare example of industrial preservation as the oldest, continuous operating mill site in the U.S. Its history includes functioning first as a gristmill and sawmill in the 1600s, a spice mill briefly in the 19th century, and finally as a woodworking shop where the German immigrant Schwamb brothers manufactured fine wooden oval and circular picture frames.

For 105 years, the Schwambs' business prospered and grew until the 1960s when demand for high quality wooden products declined. By 1969, it looked as if the Mill was going to close. At that time, there was no local support for saving the Mill. But Arlington resident and early preservationist Patricia C. Fitzmaurice saw its historic value and initiated the effort to establish the Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust, and filed for recognition from the United States Department of the Interior in listing the Mill in the National Register of Historic Places, to which it was named in 1971.

Today, the Old Schwamb Mill's artisan wood turner continues the tradition of creating made to order hand turned wooden frames using the original 1860s belt-driven oval lathes in their original setting. The Old Schwamb Mill offers tours on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $5.00. For more information, visit www.oldschwambmill.org or call 781-643-0554.

###