Portsmouth Company

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Portsmouth Company cotton mill began in 1832 in South Berwick, Maine, as one of several local mills. For many years it was run by the Hale family from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The Counting House, the only surviving company building, is now a museum operated by the Old Berwick Historical Society.

The Portsmouth Company was incorporated in 1831 and ran a large mill in South Berwick. The Counting House sits at Main and Liberty Streets, along the Salmon Falls River. While many sources say it was built in 1832, architectural clues point to around 1850.

In 1975 the Counting House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a 2½-story brick building with a granite foundation and a steeply pitched roof. The roof ends are pedimented with a recessed triangular panel and a three-part window on each end. Brick pilasters frame the corners, and a brick entablature runs around the building just below the roof. The south-facing main facade has five bays and brick pilasters. The centered entrance leads to three rooms on the first floor and a large open space on the second. Inside, the building retains well-preserved Greek Revival woodwork.