A Town Built on Waterpower
How the Jones River Powered a Community of Makers
Kingston's industrial growth was no accident. The Jones River and its tributaries provided steady, reliable waterpower for mills, forges, and factories — transforming a farming village into a productive, interconnected industrial community.
The network of streams and ponds that flowed through Kingston created ideal conditions for water-powered industry. Mill sites dotted the landscape, from the upper reaches of the Jones River to its tidal stretches near Plymouth Bay. Each mill served a specific purpose — grinding grain, sawing lumber, forging iron — and together they formed an integrated economy that supported the town's growth for over a century.
The waterpower industry was particularly important for Kingston's shipbuilding trade. Sawmills produced the timber needed for vessel construction, while anchor works and forges created the iron fittings that held ships together. Without the reliable waterpower of the Jones River, Kingston's shipbuilding legacy might never have flourished.