Program

NYS Historic

Subject

Industry & Commerce, Site

Location

4 River Rd, Highland, NY 12528, USA

Lat/Long

41.720263177604, -73.957073652251

Grant Recipient

Town of Lloyd

Brothers Aaron and John C. Deyo constructed the Deyo Steam Mill in Lloyd, New York, between 1859 and 1860. While numerous mills already lined the Twaalfskill Creek, this facility was the first in the area to utilize steam power rather than traditional water wheels. The steam-driven machinery allowed the factory to manufacture a variety of goods, including sashes, blinds, doors, moldings, wheelbarrows, custom stair rails, and furniture.

The brothers dissolved their partnership in 1865, leaving Aaron Deyo to manage operations independently until he sold the property in 1868. Although the mill changed ownership multiple times throughout the late 19th and 20th centuries, it retained the name “Deyo Steam Mill” through each transfer, occasionally returning to Deyo family members, such as William Deyo. The factory was still identified as the W. Deyo Sash and Blind Factory on 1875 maps, at which time it was one of four active mills in New Paltz Landing. Unlike its neighbors—the grist, cider, and plaster mills that relied on the Twaalfskill Creek to turn water wheels—the Deyo Mill’s use of steam marked a distinct shift in local industrial methods.

Manufacturing eventually ceased at the site, though the exact date is not known. By 1887, Aaron Deyo had established a separate factory in nearby Highland for the production of carriage bows. The original mill structure was eventually converted into a private residence and artist’s studio, which it remains as of 2026.