Built 1860 (1860) NRHP Reference # 66000416 Opened 1860 Added to NRHP 28 September 1983 | Architect Waltus Watkins Designated NHLD November 13, 1966 Area 227 ha Phone +1 816-580-3387 Established 1964 | |
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Similar Wallace State Park, Weston Bend State Park, Crowder State Park, Lewis and Clark State Park, Van Meter State Park | ||
Watkins Mill, in Lawson, Missouri, is a preserved woolen mill dating to the mid-19th century. The mill is protected as Watkins Mill State Historic Site, which preserve its machinery and business records in addition to the building itself. The historic site is the centerpiece of 1,442-acre (584 ha) Watkins Woolen Mill State Park. The property became part of the Missouri state parks system in 1964. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1966 in recognition for its remarkable state of preservation.
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History
Watkins Mill was built in 1859-1860 by Waltus Watkins, who called it Bethany Plantation. Watkins built housing for the mill workers nearby, creating one of the first planned communities in North America. The community was effectively self-sufficient, the mill producing yarn and wool cloth. The mill operated at capacity until 1886, two years after Watkins' death. From 1886 to the turn of the twentieth century production declined. Nearly all of the mill machinery has been preserved, including a 65-horsepower steam engine that powered the factory.
The site also includes the Watkins house, dating to 1850. The twelve-room, 2½-story house includes three staircases, the main stair detailed in carved walnut. It remained a Watkins family home until 1945.
The Franklin School, or Octagonal School, is an octagonal schoolhouse built in 1856 and used by the Watkins family and their employees until the mid-1870s, when it became a residence for mill workers. The unusual octagonal building was built of locally manufactured brick on Watkins land.
The Watkins family also donated the land for Mt. Vernon Baptist Church, built in 1871 to replace a log church dating to the 1850s. Of the $5000 construction cost, more than half was donated by Watkins.
State park
The recreation area of the state park has 96 campsites, most of which have electric hookups, and many of which are available year-round. A 100-acre (40 ha) lake supports fishing for bass, catfish, crappie and sunfish and has a large sand swimming beach. A 3.8-mile (6.1 km) asphalt bicycling and walking trail follows the shoreline of the lake, and there is a separate 3.5-mile (5.6 km) equestrian trail.