Bent, G.H., Company Factory
Also known as: Bent's Cookie Factory
Why it's listed
Built in 1892 at 7 Pleasant Street in Milton, this wood-frame factory has made crackers and cookies for more than a century. The main block is two stories above a raised granite basement, with cedar clapboards, a low hipped roof, and a retail shop at the southwest corner of the ground floor. Side wings, a loading dock and a rear storage shed were added over time, and two brick Dutch ovens survive in the bakery. The business descends from Josiah Bent, who began making water crackers in Milton in 1801, and his grandson George H. Bent incorporated the company in 1891. After the National Biscuit Company closed its Milton plant in 1926, this factory remained the only local successor to that trade. Its designer and builder are unknown. It is one of few intact industrial buildings left in Milton, and it was recognized for its industrial, commercial and architectural importance to the town.
Significance in brief: It is one of few intact industrial buildings left in Milton and has kept its original use for over a century. It is the sole local successor to the water cracker business Josiah Bent founded in 1801. It meets Criteria A and C and is significant at the local level.
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 00000075, listed February 10, 2000. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 7 Pleasant St., Milton |
|---|---|
| County | Norfolk County |
| Listed | February 10, 2000 |
| Reference number | 00000075 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1892-1949 |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a cookie and cracker factory with a retail shop, which reopened in December 1995; the exterior was restored in 1993-94. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.24511, -71.06899 (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 00000075.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15221225
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.