Adams Paper Mill

Established in 1863 by Peter Adams, the Adams Paper Mill located along the Hockanum River, would help Peter Adams rise to fame as one of the most successful paper manufacturers in the US. Born in England and working at several mills as a teen, Adams would immigrate to America at the age of 20 and further his development by working in the paper mill industry. After establishing the Adams Paper Mill, Adams would be recognized globally, winning international prizes for his paper, and even having the likes of Mark Twain use his paper for writing. Most paper mills would decline in the 1890s and the Adams Mill would follow suit: suffering from a major flood in 1869 and a fire in 1897 the mill and the business became damaged. In its prime, the mill had created a man-made pond with a series of dikes and a dam, but a hurricane in 1938 destroyed these. However, the trail to the mill ruins runs along these dikes, and hikers can look down at the previous area of the pond which is now filled with trees. The Adams Mill ruins are slightly off trail and heavy with graffiti, but provide a look into the original design and architecture of the 1863 mill.