Bomoseen in Castleton in Rutland County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)

Slate Pencil Manufacturing

(1843-1878)

Photographed by Kevin Craft, August 28, 2016

1. Slate Pencil Manufacturing Marker

Inscription.
In 1843, John Cain erected a slate pencil mill along Sucker Brook. Benjamin and James Adams bought the mill in 1853, and began mass-producing slate pencils as the Adams Manufacturing Co. Soon, after acquiring more land and business partners, the company was renamed Vermont Slate and Alum. At its peak, the company produced up to 100,000 pencils a day, which were shipped throughout the world. By the end of the Civil War, slate pencil manufacturing began to wane as wood and graphite pencils took over the marketplace. The company ceased production following a devastating fire in 1876 and foreclosed two years later. Remnants of the pencil mill can be seen along the brook from Pencil Mill Road.

Erected 2016 by Vermont Division for Historic Preservation.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Vermont Division for Historic Preservation Markers series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1843.

Location. 43° 39.767′ N, 73° 11.18′ W. Marker is in Castleton, Vermont, in Rutland County. It is in Bomoseen. It is at the intersection of North Road and Pencil Mill Road, on the right when traveling west on North Road. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Castleton VT 05735, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Vermont’s Green Mountains.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers

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are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: British Flank Near Mt. Zion (approx. 3.2 miles away); British Flank The Americans (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named The Selleck Cabin (approx. 3.2 miles away); Monument Hill And The Morning Charge (approx. 3.2 miles away); Beginnings of the Battle (approx. 3.2 miles away); a different marker also named Germans Arrive, Americans Retreat (approx. 3.3 miles away); Hubbardton Battle Monument (approx. 3.3 miles away); Battle of Hubbardton (approx. 3.3 miles away).

Other markers no longer nearby. The Selleck Cabin (was approx. 3.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Monument Hill Charge (was approx. 3.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Germans Arrive, Americans Retreat (was approx. 3.2 miles away but has been permanently removed); Welcome to Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Park (was approx. 3.3 miles away but has been permanently removed); Dawn Attack (was approx. 3.3 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Wideview of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Kevin Craft, August 28, 2016

2. Wideview of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Marker

Remnants of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Hydro Power Foundation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dennis Gilkenson, June 18, 2017

3. Remnants of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Hydro Power Foundation

Remnants of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Building Chimney's Foundation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Dennis Gilkenson, June 18, 2017

4. Remnants of Slate Pencil Manufacturing Building Chimney's Foundation

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 29, 2016, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. This page has been viewed 1,774 times since then and 68 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 29, 2016, by Kevin Craft of Bedford, Quebec. 3, 4. submitted on June 19, 2017, by Dennis Gilkenson of Saxtons River, Vermont.