Tubbs Mill-A Brief History

Originally developed for use as a saw and grist mill in 1796, what is today known as The Tubbs Mill has long and storied place in Stowe's history. As a pioneer of hydro-power in Stowe, Josiah Hurlburt saw the potential at 52 River Rd. early on, constructing a dam at the head of the rapids to power his mill saws. The property was later sold to a Col. Ashael Raymond, where evidence suggests the mill was used throughout the 1800's as a tannery as well.

In 1873, a man by the name of Paphro D. Pike purchased the property from the Raymond's, where he opened a butter-tub, or butter packaging plant, providing employment to 10-15 men. Despite his success in this field over the next 14 years, Mr. Pike sold the plant to seek other ventures in Brooklyn, NY. His respite didn't last long however, returning a few years later only to re-purchase the property and resume business under the name P.D. Pike & Sons. This second acquisition of The Tubbs Mill proved to be the most fortuitous, as Mr. Pike invented and patented a number of appliances used for cutting and fitting butter packages. Tragically, just two years after selling the Tubbs Mill at auction in 1921, the plant was destroyed by fire.

Recognizing how the loss of the manufacturing plant would adversely affect the town, a group of leading manufacturers of Stowe organized the Stowe Butter Package Corporation, purchasing the site and water-power and rebuilding the mill and shop. Their intention was to change the operation away from the manufacturing of butter to the sale of whole milk. This plan however, proved futile, and soon reorganized as Stoweware, Inc, manufacturing a nationally recognized line of highly polished wood ware. This continued until in 1976, with the building changing hands once again with the property being acquired by the Stowe Canoe Company. This later became the Stowe Canoe and Snowshoe Company then Tubbs Snowshoe Company in 1988 under the guidance and tutelage of new owner, Ed Kinery. Not unlike Paphro D. Pike's before him, Mr. Kinery revolutionized his industry, only instead of developing appliances for butter packaging, created a never seen before snowshoe design, and in doing so, all but single handedly revived this dying market as we know it.

Today, the Tubbs Mill stands as a living landmark to the innovation and accomplishments that has embodied the Town of Stowe for many generations past, and for many to come. A paradigm of Vermont's ability to combine the natural surroundings with industrial fortitude, the Tubbs Mill remains one of the few vessels that is able to encompass both.

Source: History of Stowe: From 1763-1934; W.J. Bigelow