Cold Brook Feed Mill
Why it's listed
Beside a rushing stream on Route 8 just south of Cold Brook village, this weathered wooden mill preserves the working equipment of a small-town grist mill. Ira Torrey built the original two-story section in 1857 to replace an earlier mill dating to about 1811. A lean-to addition later gave the building its square plan. Inside are the original water-powered stone grinder and corn sheller, two buckwheat mills, a wheat flour mill installed during wartime, bolters, separators and grain elevators. A turbine replaced the original wooden water wheel. Outside, remnants of a stone and boulder dam and an iron-hooped wooden flume survive. The mill matters because small community mills once found in nearly every hamlet have almost vanished, and few keep their original machinery. Operations ended by 1929 as western flour and a shift to dairying removed demand for local grinding. The nominated area covers about one acre, including the mill, dam and flume.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the mill as a rare survivor of the small hamlet mills that once supplied local flour and feed, because its original equipment remains largely intact. It also reflects the growth of Cold Brook after a road opened in 1808 and the decline of local milling in the face of western competition.
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 74001243, listed October 9, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NY 8, Cold Brook |
|---|---|
| County | Herkimer County |
| Listed | October 9, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74001243 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Ira Torrey (built the 1857 mill) |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and altered; operations ceased by 1929, and the mill was later opened as an antique shop in 1954. Original equipment remains in place. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 43.23979, -75.04100 (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 74001243.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5142204
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.