Norad Mill

The Norad Mill is a historic mill located at 60 Roberts Drive, between Massachusetts Avenue and Route 2 (State Road), in North Adams, Massachusetts. It is the oldest mill complex in North Adams that has not had its exterior significantly altered, making visible much of its Italianate styling. It was built in 1863 by Sanford Blackinton, one of North Adams' leading mill owners, and operated as the North Adams Woolen Company. Blackinton used the mill to produce woolen goods that were in high demand during the American Civil War. The business was reorganized as the North Adams Manufacturing Company in 1877. The mill continued to be the site of woolen textile production, under a variety of corporate names, until 1947. In 1954 the Excelsior Printing Company began operations in the facility; it was acquired by Crane & Co., which (as of the 1985 National Register nomination), continued to operate that business under its original name. In 2005 the business and mill complex were purchased by Crane family member David Crane. In 2016 the printing business was sold to Integrity Graphics which has consolidated operations elsewhere. The mill complex includes, in addition to the main mill building, several 19th century extensions and a storehouse erected in 1904. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.