One Hundred Dollars a Month

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed

Yesterday while the HH and I were out on a date day adventure, we had stopped off at the Harrisville General Store for lunch. As we were getting out of the car, I noticed an open flag next to one of the brick buildings across the street and told my husband I wanted to go investigate after we ate. {Open flags are a big deal around here because so many businesses are seasonal, and I always get a little excited when I see one.}

We had actually been through the town of Harrisville, New Hampshire once before, last fall I think it was, and so I knew the brick buildings alongside the road had housed an old mill once upon a time. Old mills, and towns built around those mills, are a VERY common thing here in New England because the textile industry was so rich in these parts.

But the interesting thing I think, is not only the who, what, when and where part about those buildings and towns, but what these old structures and places have morphed into in recent years.

It was until I got home afterwards, that I looked up the history of the mill on the website of Harrisville Designs, and found what you’ll read below.

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“Woolen yarn has been spun in the water powered, brick mill town of Harrisville since 1794. This small village is nestled in the Monadnock Highlands of southwestern New Hampshire and is the only industrial community of the early 19th Century that still survives in America in its original form.

In 1977, the Department of Interior designated Harrisville a National Historic Landmark.

Harrisville Designs has been spinning 100% Virgin Wool Yarn in Harrisville, New Hampshire for over 40 years. As one of a handful of woolen mills left in this country, Harrisville’s textile tradition is rich and dates back to 1794 when the first of several mills was built across the Nubanusit River to harness the water-power necessary for carding fleeces brought down to the village from local hilltop farms.

The Harris family built many of the original mill buildings and houses for their family and workers. In the mid-1800’s, the Colony family bought out the Harris holdings and created Cheshire Mills. When that business closed its doors in 1970, a group of citizens and preservations joined together and formed a non-profit organization calling itself Historic Harrisville, Inc., which immediately purchased several of the core buildings to restore and lease out to businesses.

John J. Colony III was instrumental in this endeavor. He quickly realized that as the mill buildings were being cleared out and machinery was being destroyed and sold for scrap metal that textiles would be completely erased from the village.

He started Harrisville Designs in 1971 to keep the textile tradition alive and to create jobs in Harrisville for the economic vitality of the town, leasing space from Historic Harrisville to give that organization income to help keep it viable. The village of Harrisville was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977.

It is recognized as the only 18th century textile village in America that survives in its original form. Harrisville Designs continues to make high quality, natural 100% wool yarns for knitting and weaving along with beautiful carded fleece for felting and spinning.

Floor Looms in several sizes and styles are finely hand-crafted in the woodworking shop which also creates their wonderful line of awarding-winning products for children. The Friendly Loom ™ Product line includes weaving, knitting, felting, and metal looms and cotton loops for weaving potholders.

Harrisville Designs is still owned and operated by John and Patricia Colony. They have been joined by two of their three sons, Timothy and Nicholas, who are interested in carrying on the textile tradition that’s been part of their family for generations.”

~ The story is from Harrisville Designs

I may not be a knitter, or know how to use a loom, but WOWIE ZOWIE, the HH and I both knew we where standing in an amazing place. I was in awe of all the threads, and the HH, well I think he was in love with the building. Just look at those floors!

1. Cool Table. I bet it’s as old as dirt.
2. When did people get so thirsty? 15 years ago I bet there wouldn’t have been a water bottle in sight if a couple of ladies gathered around a table to knit.
3. Am I the only one who notices these things? 😉

All those loom kits you see online… This is where they are made! How cool is that?

One of these days, I am going to learn to needle felt.

As the HH and I wandered about the store, I knew I wanted to go home with something. I mean really, how could I be in such an amazing store and not buy anything? Even if it wasn’t for me. And then I came across these mittens. The mittens were’t for sale, but the pattern and skeins of beautiful yarn were.

And since I don’t know how to knit {I’ve tried, but it’s not my thing} but I know some of YOU do, I thought I would pick up the necessary supplies for someone to be able to make a set of these beautiful mittens.

And that is how this giveaway came about.  A little gift from me, to one of you. 🙂

Before I do the whole giveaway thing below, I just want to say this… If you are even remotely interested in old buildings, or weaving, or knitting or yarn, and you find yourself in the New England area sometime in the near future, a trip to Harrisville Designs is an absolute must!

Like I said above, I’m not a knitter, but I’m already looking forward to another trip to the mill. 🙂 It’s just that cool.

How you can win it:

Curious minds want to know…. If you win this bundle of knitting goodness, what will you do with it?  Give it away to someone who loves to knit? Knit the gloves for yourself? A friend? We want to know.

Just answer that one question below in the comment section here on the blog and you’re entered to win. Life’s pretty complicated sometimes, so I like to keep things simple around here. And just so you know, this particular giveaway is open to residents anywhere on the planet earth.

Rules:

1 entry per person/ip address. If you cheat, you will totally be disqualified. {Comments may take an hour or two to be cleared, so please be patient}.

This giveaway ends Friday, May 10th, 2019 @ 6 pm EST and the winner will be announced on Saturday, May 11th. You will be notified via email and have 48 hours to claim your prize. If you do not claim your prize within 48 hours, the prize will be forfeited.

Good Luck! I hope you win!

♥ Mavis

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