Help us bring our 128-year-old Franklinville Engine House back to life!
Randolph Heritage is lucky that both our historic engine and its historic engine house have survived since the mill converted to all-electric power.
A steam engine and boiler were first added to support the water power at Franklinville in the summer of 1882. A corliss-style engine built by the William A. Harris Company of Providence, RI was added, starting up on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, 1897. It has a 18-inch piston with a flywheel 13 feet in diameter, weighs 20 tons and generated about 150 horsepower.
The engine ran on this site for 25 years, but was sold and used to power sawmills and millwork companies in eastern North Carolina. In May 2024 we recovered this historic machine from its long vacation and began to restore it to working condition. In October we started to renovate the Engine House itself, opening blocked windows and removing a false floor installed in 1923.
A modern gas-fired boiler will be used to generate steam and demonstrate the engine to power our nationally-recognized machinery collection.
Help us restore this magnificent work horse of the Industrial Revolution to become a major attraction for school groups and weekend visitors to Franklinville.
Together we can create an exciting visitor experience at the museum.
Your gift in any amount helps us get steaming!
The Engine House in 1900.