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Mill sluice, Butters'/Miller/Clapp's Mill, Burlington, Mass.

The original stone infrastructure is still standing. This is a photograph of the sluiceway.

Photographer: John Goff
Historic Preservation
and Design, Salem, Mass.

© 2000 Town of Burlington
Photo courtesy of
Burlington Municipal Archives
Burlington, MA.
(Historic Commission Historic Resources Survey, negative 11-19).

Endangered historic/conservation site!

About Butters'/Miller/Clapp's Mill Site:
Photos of site
Maps of site

  • Potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, due to its significance on the national, state, and local levels

  • Registered as a Massachusetts Historical Commission's Archaeological Resources Survey Site

  • Historically significant for 17th-19th century associations as Burlington's last surviving water-powered mill Burlington's other main mills--the Reed mills on Vine Brook--are covered by the Burlington Mall

  • Associations with Minuteman James Butters (1745-1838), the propagator of the Baldwin apple and Loammi Baldwin (1745-1807), designer of New England’s first canal (1803 Middlesex Canal), and the first individual to graft the Baldwin apple.

  • The Saw Mill of Saw Mill Road The mill was most likely used by Minuteman James Butters (1745-1838) during the early part of the 19th century--the mill was located on family land and was just down the road from the Butters' farm in Wilmington. The Butters and Millers--the Burlington owners for over 20 years--were related by marriage.

    It is very possible that the mill was designed by Loammi Baldwin (1745-1807), before he achieved fame as the designer of the Middlesex Canal in 1803. The stone construction of the mill dam and foundations is especially substantial, similar in scale and sophistication to works found on the Middlesex Canal. Baldwin did surveying in the area and the canal ran right through Butters' Row in Wilmington. The Middlesex Canal connected the Merrimac River to the Charles River in Boston and ran parallel to Butters' Row. The property retains historic Butters' family associations with the origin and early grafting of the famous Baldwin apple.

  • A quiet and natural place to reflect on the Burlington that once was

    The wind whispers through the trees and neighbors take advantage of the area's natural beauty. It deserves to be protected as a conservation area and an historic area.

  • Severely endangered by heavy development and vandalism

    The parcel--3+ acres in Wilmington, MA and 3+ acres in Burlington, MA--are for sale and are advertised as having subdivision potential. A residential A-frame has been heavily vandalized. A rotary sawmill blade disappeared from the property between 1998-1999. Vandalism, heavy development, removal of "private road" signs on Sawmill Road, and for sale signs show that the mill features are severely endangered.


Etching of an up-and-down sawmill

Etching of an up-and-down, water powered sawmill. From Oliver Evans' 1807 The Young Millwright. This illustration shows the structure and power system of an early reciprocating (up-and-down) saw mill. The saw mill was mounted in a frame driven vertically by linkages from the waterwheel and shaft. With each stroke of the saw blade, a cog mechanism advanced the log carriage a short distance on its track, positioning the log for the next cut.