Kearsarge Peg Mill

Site of an early 20th century peg mill. The original mill remains intact and since 2002 has housed the Common Man Inn. Established in 1898 by Jacob R. Foster and managed by his sons, Edwin J. and George R., the mill produced 300 bushels per day of split shoe pegs, then used worldwide in shoe manufacture. 2500 cords of yellow birch were consumed annually. An innovative aspect of the process made use of the mills waste wood to fuel its 100 horsepower boilers. The mill was thus energy dependent. The mill closed after WWI; other wooden products were produced until 2001.