Mill entered in registry of historic places

    DOVER-FOXCROFT — The American Woolen Company Foxcroft Mill in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, has been entered in the National Register of Historic Places according to Earle G. Shettleworth, Jr., director of the Maine Historic Preservation Commission. This designation indicates that the property has been documented, evaluated and considered worthy of preservation and protection as part of the nation’s cultural heritage.

    The American Woolen Company Mill is located on East Main Street, beside the Piscataquis River Bridge, in the heart of Dover-Foxcroft. The complex includes 10 contributing buildings and structures (with additions) ranging in date from 1844 to 1941. Originally called the Mayo & Son Mill, the complex achieved its fully developed state under the ownership of the American Woolen Company in 1941. The complex was occupied by companies that provided employment to a significant number of local residents over a period of 163 years.

    Recently closed, the American Woolen Company Mill was eligible for listing in the National Register as an historic district for its industrial significance and long association with the textile industry in Maine. The complex also embodies the distinctive architectural characteristics specific to mill construction. Collectively, the extant buildings in the mill complex document the evolution of building techniques, materials, and architectural styles typical of textile mills in Maine over a period of more than 50 years.