The Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust Mission Statement

The Schwamb Mill Preservation Trust exists for the preservation, maintenance, and enhancement of the Old Schwamb Mill in Arlington, Massachusetts. Begun in 1864 as a picture frame manufactory, the Mill is located on the site of many previous mills built on Mill Brook. It is a rare survivor of the small, family-owned mills that helped define New England, and is the oldest continuously operating mill site in the United States. The mill’s unique 19^th century elliptical faceplate lathes, its original belt-driven shaft-and-pulley machinery, and the original hand-turning process are used to this day to create custom-made oval and circular frames. The Trust preserves and protects the Mill’s site, buildings, tools, archives, machinery, and manufacturing techniques as unique cultural and educational resources.