Otis Company Mill No. 1
Also known as: The Old Stone Mill
Why it's listed
Otis Company Mill #1, called the Old Stone Mill, is a five-story granite building on East Main Street in Ware, Massachusetts. It was built in 1845 and measures 48 by 200 feet. Its load-bearing walls are of locally quarried granite, with cast iron tie rods visible on the exterior and a stair tower on the north side. Greek Revival proportions and details mark its design. Later brick and granite additions were made through the 1800s and into the early 1900s. The building is significant as an outstanding example of the early Rhode Island-type stone textile mill, modeled on English predecessors, and as one of the last granite mills of its period in western Massachusetts. The only other survivors named are the heavily altered Thorndike mills in Palmer. The mill also anchored Ware's growth. The Otis Company owned much of the village, drove the local economy and influenced town politics, housing, religion and education until its operations ended in 1937.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an outstanding example of an early 19th century Rhode Island-type textile mill, and one of the last granite mills of the pre-turbine period in western Massachusetts. It also shows how the Otis Company shaped Ware's settlement, economy, politics and social life. Its exceptional condition adds to its importance.
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 82001909, listed May 2, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | E. Main St., Ware |
|---|---|
| County | Hampshire County |
| Listed | May 2, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001909 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 and 1900- (specific date 1845) |
| Architect / builder | probably Joseph Brown |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Community Planning and Development, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in good condition, altered, on its original site, and marked occupied with industrial and commercial use. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Ware Millyard Historic District |
| Coordinates | 42.25863, -72.23836 (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 82001909.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7108770
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.