Stone Mill Dawn
A Lawrence, MA Icon
Stone Mill, Lawrence, MA
The Stone Mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts was a photography playground to me for over a decade. The old bones of this machine shop, turned textile mill, turned multi-use commercial building hadn’t changed much in over a century, and the raw, original spaces of the Stone offered incredible mood, shadow and light. Having gained the trust of the building’s ownership at the time, I took full advantage of the access they granted me.
A couple of years ago I learned that the building was to be sold and converted to apartments. Since the Stone Mill is listed on the national register of historic places, I knew the new owners had to maintain much of the feel of the original structure, including the slate roof and stone facade. I also knew that many things would need to change out of necessity. The building was not known for its energy efficiency, so since it was being converted to an apartment building, it was obvious that the old drafty windows would need an upgrade. And of course, the interior would be completely overhauled.
Even though I was sure I had photographed every corner of the building, I still felt the need to return for one last pass. That one last pass turned into a couple of visits, as well as a sunrise shoot (above) to capture the morning sun bouncing off of the Mill’s beautiful stone and drafty windows.
Below is a panorama of the attic of the Stone Mll.
If you are on your desktop computer, be sure to click on the image for a larger view.