crane company old stone mill crane company old stone mill oldest surviving buildings built oldest businesses massachusetts located southwestern site paper manufactured early 19th century building originally processing housed designated began making paper taking ownership established operation room site sons constructed room surviving portion room crane grandson learned business efforts crane secured monopoly contract provide paper nation currency holds today room gray building slate roof interior large open space houses exhibits artifacts company history open public charge history educated processes paper manufacturing mill owned brother stephen newton lower falls massachusetts stint paper mill traveled west looking potential sites found highly desirable site owner local farmer unwilling crane instead established business nearby parcel followed years notably acquired desirable site established known series partnership purchase transactions crane eventually acquired control taking ownership retired leaving control sons founded set expanding business beginning construction known construction effort built damaged fire repaired destroyed fire expanded known firm 1890s demolished leaving room company adapted room use company museum role filled following plans developed architect company reinforced building foundation steel concrete filling number windows stonework interior significantly reworked new structural completion interior said resemble massachusetts company retained firm design landscaping area work compromised extent later development property site declared added national_register_of_historic_places listed includes properties home room son began career business responsible acquiring exclusive government contract manufacture paper currency united_states addition running late 19th century served governor massachusetts united_states senator played influential role republican_party politics description room single room single story gray building window bays wide seven long featuring stepped ends slate roof originally stood southwest stone mill complex north end connected larger mill buildings building arriving mill processed start operation northern facade given proper doors columns identifying building doorway circular window added slate roof support beams replaced altering exterior lines building late 19th century brick addition east building landmark designation screened view interior building single large space artifacts company history displayed displays include tools replica early process equipment paper museum open weekday june october charge
Crane and Company Old Stone Mill Rag Room