Phillips Woolen Mill
Why it's listed
Set on the west side of Grove Street in Adams, this former woolen mill is a group of five connected sections. The main building is a three-story brick structure with a four-story tower, slate window lintels and sills, and Greek Revival trim. A brick wing, a rubble stone section and later concrete and wood additions from the 1920s complete the complex. The site was first developed for water power in the late 1820s, when a cotton factory was built by the Mason brothers. Cotton goods were made here until the Civil War, and in 1864 new owners converted the mill to woolen manufacture. The Phillips family kept producing woolens until the early twentieth century, when the Adams Woolen Manufacturing Company took over. Production wound down between the 1930s and early 1950s, and the buildings became a storehouse. The mill was listed as the best surviving small brick mill from Adams' early industrial period and as a good example of mid-nineteenth century mill construction.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the mill has integrity of location, design and materials and is tied to the industrial development of Adams. It is described as Adams' best remaining small-scale brick mill from the early industrial period and an excellent example of mid-nineteenth century mill construction.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 82001897, listed September 30, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 71 Grove St., Adams |
|---|---|
| County | Berkshire County |
| Listed | September 30, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001897 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival style trim on the mid-nineteenth century brick sections |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as a former woolen mill, occupied and used as a warehouse, in fair condition and altered, with windows covered. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 42.60639, -73.13414 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 82001897.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7185946
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.