Destination:
The Berkshires
of Western Massachusetts

Dalton

Zenas Crane settled in Dalton in 1797 and built his first paper mill in 1801. Two hundred years later, Crane and Co. is still going strong as the manufacturer of all the paper that goes into making American currency. The Crane Museum -- a one-room stone mill that the Crane family built in 1844 -- offers visitors an up-close look at the paper-making process and how it has evolved over the years. When Crane started the family business way back when, his mill consisted of nothing more than one vat and a drying loft. He could crank out no more than about 125 pounds of paper a day, which roughly equates to about 2,500 folio-sized sheets. It didn't take long, though, for Crane's outfit to evolve into Dalton's biggest industry.

"Americans: Encourage your own manufactories, and they will Improve. Ladies save your Rags. As the Subscribers have it in contemplation to erect a Paper-Mill in Dalton, the ensuing Spring; and the business being very beneficent to the community at large, they flatter themselves they shall meet with due encouragement etc.

[Signed]
Henry Marshall, Zenas Crane, and John Willard

Pittsfield Sun advertisement

In the Area:
Crane Museum
Wahcohah State Park.

Chamber of Commerce of the Berkshires
75 North Street, Suite 360
Pittsfield, MA 01201
(413) 499-4000
Fax: (413) 447-9641

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