Dard Hunter Paper Mill at Gomez Mill House

Papermaking ExhibitionsPapermaking History

Apr 27

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Tucked away in upstate New York, off busy Route 9W, there’s a little nook next to a stream. Quiet, peaceful, and green, this happens to be a site of interest to hand papermakers.

Gomez Mill House has had a long history. Built in the 1600s, the house has been home to revolutionaries and social activists—but we’re interested in Dard Hunter. Dard who? A hunter?

Dard Hunter was an Arts and Crafts artisan, paper researcher and historian, and is a figure to know in the history of hand papermaking in America. Gomez Mill House was home to the Hunter family for during the 1910s, and thus, there are many items at the house for the curious papermaker to see. Most notable is a mill with a thatched roof (snug, and still no leaks) and water wheel. A sort of man cave, or better yet, paper cave, you’ll find a Hollander Beater hooked up to the water wheel. The wheel itself only worked when the stream was high enough. Also in the building is a press that still works.In the house, there are two Dard Hunter books on display, and quite a few watermarks. The kitchen and other rooms have original furniture — and many interesting historical characters have lived in the house over the centuries.

Worth a road trip!