On Thursday, September 12, the Rochester Historical Commission presented an historic plaque to be placed on the 1920 Hartley Sawmill Office. Rick Miranda, the current guardian of the Hartley Sawmill Preservation Trust site, is shown receiving the plaque from Commission members, Sue La Fleur and Stan Moszczenski.
Miranda also purchased a plaque to be placed at the site of the Hartley Sawmill. Because of the water source, the Hartley Sawmill site was home to an iron forge in 1725, a grist mill from 1823-1856 and then also a boxboard and shingle mill in 1879. James Hartley purchased the property in 1888, and it operated until 1964.
Anyone interested in purchasing a plaque for their historic home should go to the town website and then to the Historical Commission to find out about the program and the eligibility requirements.
By Connie Eshbach
