The Old Mill, East Acton, Massachusetts

In 1728 the land and mill privilege were granted by the Concord proprietors to John Barker (1689-c.1760) as a place to set up a forge, the waterpower at his earlier ironworks on Parker Street having been reduced by the increased activity at the Jones & Faulkner mills.  The forge, equipped with a "triphammer and other implements," is thought to have been in use at least into the 1790's.  

In the 19th century, the waterpower supplied both a sawmill on the site and East Acton's principle gristmill, built in 1840 some 450 yards downstream.  The owner of the mills, Daniel Wetherbee (c.1815-1883), was variously town clerk, assessor, and selectman for many years.  He was largely responsible for establishing the State Reformatory at West Concord and, like Winthrop Faulkner at South Acton, was a director and one of the prime movers in establishing the railroad through East Acton.  

The existing single-story frame building was built by Nelson Tenney about 1920 on the foundations of the sawmill.  Tenney, a prominent Acton Inventor and gadget maker, planned to use the waterpower of Nashoba Brook to provide Acton with cheap electricity.  There was no record of his success, but about 1945 the building was remodeled into a residence.   

-- Acton Historical Society