William Briggs Homestead

In an area of town called East Auburn sits the historic Briggs Homestead. The village of East Auburn is located about four miles north of the center of Auburn at the outlet of Lake Auburn. It was settled in the late 1700's as part of Minot, and was for some time called Berry's Mills then Vickery's Mills. When it was part of Minot it was recorded as lot #45 and was first settled by Samuel Berry who is believed to be the first white settler in the area. Mr. Berry was enlisted as a scout and a guide for the historic Arnold Expeditions. From the beginning, the settlement became an important industreal center. Power for water wheels was supplied by the outlet stream from the lake. A grist mill was built by Berry as early as 1793 and later he built a saw mill. A friend of the Berry family, William Briggs also constructed a second grist mill as well as a bobbin mill. Briggs,from Dighton, Massachusetts, settled in the area in 1797 and in the same year built a frame house for his large family. The house has been restored an still sits on the original property.