The Abandoned Lonaconing Silk Mill

 

The Abandoned Lonaconing Silk Mill is the last free-standing intact silk mill in the United States.  Located in Lonaconing, MD, the mill has been nominated for the George’s Creek Watershed Association for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.

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The Lonaconing Silk Mill endured a tumultuous history in the early to mid 1900’s, surviving both the Great Depression and World War II.  However, a worker strike in the summer of 1957 sealed the ultimate fate of the factory.  Several of the pictures display calendars and pay ledgers which have been left literally where they were located on the mill’s final day of operation…July 7, 1957.

For the majority of these photographs, I used a Sony A7s and the Leica Summilux 35mm lens, handheld. No flash/artificial lighting was used. The A7s is designed for low-light captures, and operates well at high ISO settings.

This was my first trip to the mill, but hopefully not the last.  It’s a fascinating structure, and a treat for photographers who come from all over the mid atlantic to capture its rare, rustic beauty.