Help support the creation of new home for AARCH and its good work
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After several years of planning, we are very excited that we have acquired an historic stone mill complex on the Ausable River in Keeseville as a new home for AARCH. During the last half of the 19th century this complex was the Ausable Horse Nail Company, which manufactured horse nails and the machines to mass produce them. Here we will be able to have exhibits, workshops, a meeting and classroom space, a resource center, offices, and much more. Besides developing the site for our own uses, AARCH intends to develop part of the Stone Mill for other private uses. The revitalization of this site has been a high priority for the village for decades and it presents a wonderful opportunity for AARCH to establish a greater physical presence in the region, to expand its programming, and to contribute to the vitality of this historic village. |
The mill complex is on the Ausable River in the center of Keeseville's National Register historic district. Note the Stone Mill (1849) in the foreground and the Stone Arch Bridge (1843) to the right. Behind the Stone Mill is the Stone Office Building, former Congregational Church, and Ausable Valley Grange Hall.
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The acquisition of this property has been made possible by a grant from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and funding through Senator Elizabeth Little. We also thank George Moore, from whom we bought the property, for his patience while we put together the initial funding for this project. During the winter we started the first phase of rehabilitation and restoration work on the Stone Office Building, developed plans for the remainder of the work there, and are now asking for your financial support to continue and complete this work.
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Ground Floor Public Programs - The gallery space will also be used for public programs and workshops, including lectures and activities especially geared toward school age students. Lower Level Upper Floor |
Design work for the project was done by Nils Luderowski, Architect, Keene Valley and by his colleague and assistant, Christine Francis. The rendering above shows how the gallery space will look.
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The AARCH staff (Steven Engelhart, Bonnie DeGolyer, Susan Arena, and Ellen Ryan) has done hundreds of hours of work on the first phase of the project.
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A Brief History of the Ausable Horse Nail Company Complex
The Ausable Horse Nail Company was a manufacturer of horse nails and horse nail making machines from the 1860s to the early 20th century. The company used iron ore from local and imported sources, harnessed the power of the Ausable River to run its machinery, and produced nails using the patented nail making machines designed by local blacksmith and entrepreneur Daniel Dodge. His machine revolutionized the horse nail making industry and this industry was one of two important economic engines in the community in the 19th century, employing hundreds of workers.
In the early 20th century the property was bought by R. Prescott & Sons, which was a well established wood manufacturing company in the village. The buildings were used as their offices and for finishing the radio and television cabinets they manufactured.
The property is the last remaining iron manufacturing complex in the Adirondack region and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Budget/Support
The budget for the acquisition and rehabilitation of the Stone Office Building is $410,000. Support for the project will come from:
- Grants in hand $150,000
- AARCH cash reserves $70,000
- In-kind support $10,000
- Pending/future grants $80,000
- Membership appeal $100,000 - Total $ 410,000
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We have a goal of raising $100,000 from our members, friends, business supporters, and the family foundations that support our work.
The AARCH Center is an investment in the future of the organization and in AARCH's good work across the region. Please help by donating to the creation of a home for AARCH in the Stone Office Building at the former Ausable Horse Nail Company complex in Keeseville. Yes - I'd like to donate |
"Shoeing the Horse" (circa 1878) depicts a blacksmith at work with the Ausable Horse Nail Company in the background. Illustration courtesy the Library of Congress.
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