Newspaper Article

LAKES REGION CULTURAL RESOURCE NEW ENERGY GENERATED IN OLD MILL BELKNAP SOCIETY SEEKS TO CREATE ARTISTIC 'CROSSROADS'

Ferguson, Michele

1987

Overview

Because of the persistence of a core of citizens who sensed the potential of the Belknap Mill and banded together, the Belknap Mill was spared from the wrecker's ball. Saved along with it was the Busiel Mill, which can be seen from the windows of the Belknap. Some $250,000 was granted by the government, and another $250,000 matched by the community to restore the Belknap Mill. After much struggle and effort, the Belknap Mill was designated the \"Meeting House of New Hampshire\" in 1976, as a part of the Bicentennial celebration, and in 1981 the Belknap Mill Society was given a national honor award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Hung on one of the walls of the third floor is \"The Mill Quilt,\" a massive quilt which was handmade and donated by the Belknap Quilter's Guild in 1982. The Quilter's Guild is one of the many special interest groups the Belknap Mill Society supports. \"The different pieces of the quilt represent the losers of the Logo Contest for the guild. The pieces were submitted and then pieced together,\" explained [Judith Buswell],\" We have a lot of support for special interest groups and promote their unique interests. For instance, we have the Belknap Mill Artists' Loft, which does live figure drawing Tuesday nights.\"

• Publisher: Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC
• Subject: Art galleries & museums / Historic preservation / Humanities / Interest groups / Performing arts / Schools / Textiles / Workshops