Lower Mills - Former Home of the Walter Baker Chocolate Factory - Boston-Milton, MA - Welcome Signs on Waymarking.com

As you approach the Lower Mills village from one of several main roads, you can't miss the great multi-story brick buildings that stand on either side of the Neponset River. Where Adams St., Washington St., and Dorchester Ave. meet at a traffic light, at the base of the most ornate of these buildings is a wooden sign stating,

Panel 1: "Welcome to Historic Lower Mills"
Panel 2: "The Former Home of The Walter Baker Chocolate Factory".

This area has a very old and varied history. One of the oldest grist mills, paper mills, and gun powder mills were established in this village along with a weir-dam that evolved to the present dam, named the Baker dam. In the mid 1700s, John Hannon started making chocolate in a fulling mill. The Baker family later took it over and built up the business, until the chocolate became a world-recognized brand. The company was sold to General Foods in 1927. General Foods moved the facility to a new plant in Dover, Delaware by 1965. Today, most of the mill buildings have been remade into residential and commercial space. Most of the buildings of the factory remain, and it is well worth stopping by and walking along the Adams Street bridge over the Neponset River, and the Baker Dam not far away.

The sign itself is facing the intersection, but may be partially hidden due to bushes that surround it. This is actually the second sign at this location. An earlier, identical sign apparently was sheered off last year, probably by a vehicle. The woman on the sign was a brand symbol, "La Chocolatier."

The Lower Mills also has the Mattapan Line of the MBTA Red Line, which is an extension of the subway line. There is much more to explore, including a great ice cream shop!

Type of community: Neighborhood

Visit Instructions:
More pictures of the sign would be great. Try and take a picture of yourself with it if you can!

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