Statement of Significance (as of designation - June 2, 1978):
This 175-acre milling community commemorates the Cheney family's silk manufacturing enterprises. With over 200 mill buildings, worker houses, churches, schools, and the Cheney family mansion, this is an excellently preserved example of a 19th to early 20th century paternalistic mill town.

Condition:
There are no new threats to the landmark as of this writing. As always, with over 200 structures in multiple ownership the possibility of inappropriate renovations persists. A few vacant or dnderused mill buildings need to be rehabilitated.

Continuing public education on the value of the resource and appropriate renovations is needed. The adaptive re-use of vacant mills and renovation of underused structures remains a priority, but is largely driven by market conditons. On a positive note the Town has cleared invasive understory plantings and restored the landscape of the "Great Lawn", enhancing the physical appearance of the district.