Musketaquid Mills
Why it's listed
Musketaquid Mills is a four-story brick mill at the corner of Davidson and Howe Streets in Lowell's Belvidere section, near the Concord River. It was built in three phases: the six southern bays in 1909, a small boiler room in 1912, and the northern eight bays and fourth floor between 1915 and about 1925. The building has segmental arched windows with granite sills, corbelled brick cornices and little other ornament. It replaced a leather factory and housed worsted textile production, first under the Musketaquid company and then the U.S. Worsted Company, until 1931. A paper box maker then occupied it into the 1980s. Belvidere once held many industrial buildings, but by 1950 this mill was the only one left, and it remains the last intact historic mill in the area. It was listed for its role in Lowell's industrial growth and as a good example of early 20th century mill construction. A rehabilitation completed in 1997 converted it to offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the mill reflects industrial development and expansion in Lowell and is the only surviving historic industrial building in the immediate Belvidere area. It is also a fine example of typical early 20th century mill construction. It is rated locally significant under Criteria A and C.
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 99001480, listed December 9, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 131 Davidson St., Lowell |
|---|---|
| County | Middlesex County |
| Listed | December 9, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99001480 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1909-1949 |
| Architectural style | Early 20th century Industrial |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant for several years, then rehabilitated (completed December 1997) as offices; occupied by the Lowell Department of Welfare. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.64371, -71.30391 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 99001480.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14715735
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.