The Busiel-Seeburg Mill is a historic mill building in
Laconia, New Hampshire
Laconia is a city in Belknap County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 16,871 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, up from 15,951 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is the county seat of Belknap County. La ...
, since converted into an office building known as 1 Mill Plaza. This 3-1/2 story brick structure achieved its present configuration in stages, beginning in 1853, and successively altered and expanded through the rest of the 19th century. The business, established by John W. Busiel in 1846, manufactured knitted hosiery, and was one of the first producers of knitwear to use circular knitting machines invented by Aiken and Peppers.
The building was listed on the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...
in 1971.
Description and history
The Busiel-Seeburg Mill is located on the east side of downtown Laconia, between Beacon Street East and the
Winnipesaukee River
The Winnipesaukee River is a river that connects Lake Winnipesaukee with the Pemigewasset and Merrimack rivers in Franklin, New Hampshire. The river is in the Lakes Region of central New Hampshire. The river's drainage area is approximately .
...
, which historically provided the mill's power. It is set between Laconia City Hall and the
Belknap-Sulloway Mill
The Belknap-Sulloway Mill, now the Belknap Mill Museum, is a historic mill at 25 Beacon Street East in Laconia, New Hampshire, a city in Belknap County. Built sometime between 1823 and 1828, it is a rare well-preserved example of an early rural t ...
, another 19th-century mill building. The Busiel-Seeburg Mill is 3-1/2 stories in height, and is built out of red brick with a gabled roof. The main facade is nine bays wide, with a central projecting square stair tower, capped by an octagonal belfry with flared roof. Ornament is limited to brick corbelling along the cornices and gable edges, and on the upper levels of the tower, where there are also round-arch windows. Shed-roof dormers pierce the roof.
[
The mill was built in stages beginning in 1853, when the eastern portion (closest to the river) was built. Its construction is a contrast to the older Belknap-Sulloway Mill, in that it uses more fire-retardant construction methods, and that it represents several different stages of mill evolution through its repeated enlargement. The mill was founded by John Busiel (father of ]Governor of New Hampshire
The governor of New Hampshire is the head of government of New Hampshire.
The governor is elected during the biennial state general election in November of even-numbered years. New Hampshire is one of only two states, along with bordering Verm ...
Charles A. Busiel) and produced knitted hosiery garments. It was one of the first area mills to use innovative circular knitting machines, and its success spurred the growth in the area of business that manufactured knitting needles.[
]
See also
*
* New Hampshire Historical Marker No. 135: The Belknap Mill - The Busiel Mill
References
External links
Official site of 1 Mill Plaza
{{NRHP in Belknap County, New Hampshire
Industrial buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places in New Hampshire
Buildings and structures completed in 1853
Buildings and structures in Laconia, New Hampshire
National Register of Historic Places in Belknap County, New Hampshire
Textile mills in the United States