GALLERY OF
WOOD SOURCES & THEIR HISTORY
Choose any link below to see another wood
source
SCOTT & WILLIAMS KNITTING MACHINE MILL:
LACONIA, NEW HAMPSHIRE
The brick building shown above had to
come down to realize the larger renovation
plan for this mill complex. We are reclaiming
the beams from this structure.
Photo Courtesy Laconia Housing Authority
| The town of Laconia has been visited by outsiders since 1652. Visitors were, initially, explorers, then settlers, business entrepeneurs and industrial-age American and immigrant workers. In our time, the area continues to attract visitors, more often in the form of tourists and motorcycle enthusiasts during the well-known and annual "Bike Week".
1761 saw the first European settlement of colonists to this area. Now known as downtown Laconia, it was then an area well established for thousands of years by native inhabitants. Laconia, New Hampshire was incorporated as a town in 1855 and became a city thirty-eight years later.
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Originally a self-sufficient farming community, it slowly grew and also became a manufacturing center during the early and mid-1800's, increasingly connected via road, rail and water to major trade centers of the time. Industrial growth continued during the second half of the 19th century with business sectors such as textiles, shoes, and (as is the case with this building) knitting machines and the needles used in them. Tourism emerged as a growing industry during this time and has continued to this day.
Scott & Williams were manufacturers of knitting machines used in the large knitting mills also running at this time. They were one of the largest manufacturers in the country, even exporting machines across the ocean to other countries, such as Britain.
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| During this century, several factors including the two World Wars and global economic competition impacted industry in the area. By the mid 1900's, Italian machines had emerged as the front-runners in the business: Many global competitors, including those in the United States, were forced out of business.
Scott & Williams knitting machines are, however, still used in production today and parts still sold for their use. One can purchase socks and other goods made from these old machines that date back to the early 1900's.
In Laconia, many of the heavy industries have relocated, but the area still maintains a manufacturing base, albeit a more modern one with products such as semiconductor heat sinks and telecommunications equipment.
The Scott & Williams mill is currently undergoing a major transformation by the Laconia Housing Authority. In a former factory neighborhood known as Normandin Square, the complex is being renovated and transformed into a multi-use space with 60 apartments, 23,000 feet of commercial space and a public park. One building within the complex had to come down to realize this new plan, and we are reclaiming the beams from within that structure. These are wonderful heart pine beams that are currently being milled for our customers.
We invite you to visit the web-site of the Laconia Housing Authority to see the progress being made on this project: www.laconiahousing.org
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