Water Power - Cotton - Tea -Trade (with Video!!!)

"Back in the Day" In and around Lowell and Billerica, rivers and canals provided; transportation corridors and power for most of the "Mill" industries.
On Tuesday evening, a picture perfect day, we visited the Boott Mill museum and dinner at La Boniche.
The Boott Cotton Mill museum in Lowell (web picture)
is a great example of preserved heritage of a mid 1800's cotton mill. With 1920's vintage looms in operation. powered by the waters of the Merrimack. In the museum there are many references and examples of the intermingled Tea and Cotton trade. We lucked out and got in just before closing, managed a one one with the folks running the machines and got some samples off the working looms. (videos later)



Check out the Video .....
One of the main beams (Scarf Joint)
Some tea stuff from the China trade days

Only a 10min walk to the La Boniche (French cuisine) Ok food, poor acoustics in the main dinning room) There was 7 of us, so we had a good time.
In Billerica, the Concord river via the Middlesex Canal provided access and power to the Faukner Mills circa 1850's (this picture from the Canal Association) I just got down to the mill pond as light was fading (and my camera battery) I'll visit again on subsequent trips (5 min from my office)
Main building

Water flows over the weir to power the mill operations.