Taylor Mill State Historic Site
Rare 19th-Century Water-Powered “Up and Down” Sawmill — 12-Foot Water Wheel, 71-Acre Ballard State Forest, Beaver Brook, Historical Demonstrations, Derry NH
Taylor Mill State Historic Site is a state historic site at 236 Island Pond Road, Derry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire, within Ballard State Forest. The site features a rare preserved “up and down” water-powered sawmill with a 12-foot water wheel powering a reciprocating saw blade at 60 strokes per minute, location within the 71-acre Ballard State Forest at Ballard Pond on Beaver Brook, historical sawmill demonstrations on scheduled dates, and walking trails through the forest.
Taylor Mill is one of the rarest surviving examples of early American industrial technology — the “up and down” sawmill uses a reciprocating saw blade powered by a 12-foot diameter, 6-foot wide water wheel. This mechanism — cutting at 60 strokes per minute — was the standard sawmill technology that built colonial New England.
Originally established by Robert Taylor in 1799, the current structure was reassembled by Ernest R. Ballard after he purchased the property in 1939. The mill can process logs up to 10–12 feet in length and 28–34 inches in diameter.
Things to Do
- Sawmill demonstrations — scheduled dates
- Historic technology — water-powered “up and down” saw
- Walking trails — 71-acre Ballard State Forest
- Fishing — Ballard Pond
- Nature observation — Beaver Brook corridor
Park Information
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Location | 236 Island Pond Rd, Derry, NH |
| Within | 71-acre Ballard State Forest |
| Mill | 12-ft water wheel, up-and-down saw |
| Founded | Robert Taylor, 1799 |
| Managed By | NH Division of Forests and Lands / Parks |
| Coordinates | 42.8756° N, 71.2392° W |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wildlife & Nature
Taylor Mill State Historic Site — preserves a 19th-century water-powered mill site documenting New Hampshire’s important mill heritage. Water-powered mills — for sawing lumber, grinding grain, carding wool, and manufacturing — drove New Hampshire’s economy for over 200 years. The stream habitat supports brook trout. Belted kingfishers fish from perches. Beaver may dam the watercourse.
Nearby Attractions
New Hampshire’s mill heritage sites are scattered across the state — nearly every stream once powered one or more mills. Local historical societies provide additional context.
What is the Taylor Mill in Derry New Hampshire?
Taylor Mill State Historic Site in Derry, NH, preserves a rare 19th-century water-powered “up and down” sawmill within the 71-acre Ballard State Forest. A 12-foot water wheel powers a reciprocating saw blade at 60 strokes per minute. Originally built by Robert Taylor in 1799, the mill offers historical demonstrations on scheduled dates. Trails and fishing at Ballard Pond are available.
Last updated: May 2026
Park Location
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