Memories of Brown's Mill

October 1902

This was a segment of a newspaper article that has a description of Brown’s mill. It confirms my belief that a burial site did exist at that location. Another article confirmed that the mill was used as a quarantine site for a Frenchman from Canada who had contracted smallpox.

Burial site at Brown’s mill?

   But little is left of the old stone mill, built some time in the twenties at Brown's village for the manufacture of ticking by power looms. The belfry, roof, doors, windows and all interior wood work have gradually disappeared, leaving only the solid walls built of finely cut granite blocks, which at the time of building were probably transported some distance on ox teams. 

   Quite a portion of its walls have been taken down and the stone utilized in the construction of the new water tower for High Bridge mill. Before leaving its roof and belfry, the old mill with its romantic surroundings made one of the finest subjects for the camera. The dam above the mill lives only in remembrance, but its ledgey foundation in the channel of the river and the portion of high wall on one side will long indicate its locality. The course of the Souhegan from the Waterloom mill down through the deep and wooded ravine to Brown's is delightfully picturesque at every step. 

   Only the older residents know of the little spot far down on the high bank below the church, enclosed years ago with a neat fence as a burial plot. All traces of the fence have disappeared and the growth of forest trees, that are identical in size and kind with the many others that border the stream, make it impossible to locate the place that for a time was kept carefully guarded.

Brown’s Mill

Brown's Mill

Toothache Drops.-Pulverized alum, 4 ozs.; sweet spirits of nitre, 14 ozs. Put up in t oz. vials. Retails at 25 cents. This is the most effective remedy for toothache that was ever brought before the public, and is a fortune to any one who will push its sale. It sells at every house.

Note: The FDA banned sweet spirits of nitre in 1980 because it's ineffective and can be fatal to infants. Its primary toxic effect is methemoglobinemia.

James Roger diary entry

October 1^st 1908 (Thursday)

Dull and foggy forenoon, clearing after and dry wind S. to S.E.  David ploughing in the Davis field.  I finished the Marshall lot.  Mr. Gordon asked me to extend his lot 6 or 7 feet.  Today penny postage began America and Great Britain.  Got coat and vest from John Preston today.