Old grist mill was originally built by Thomas Y. Hutton in 1840. Later the building was put to use manufacturing bobbins and wooden boxes for the clothing manufacturing industry. William Price bought 80 acres which included the mill in 1901, and a community of craftsmen incorporated as The Rose Valley Association. The craft idea didn't make it, but Nicole d'Ascenzo, stained glass; Samuel Yellin, wrought iron; and Wharton Esherick, wood sculpture and furniture; all went on to excell in their chosen crafts. The mill became a community center in 1904. The first dramatic performance was "The Carpet Bagger's Revenge".

Discovered by Jasper Deeter in 1922, the mill was transformed into Hedgerow Theartre with the first production being George Bernard Shaw's "Candida" on April 21, 1923. Deeter was an actor and director with the Providencetown Players but had become disenchanted with New York theater. At its peak, about 60 actors and artisans lived and worked in Rose Valley, doing a play a night for 33 years. Hedgerow Repertory dissolved in 1956, but groups continued productions through the mid.- 1980's, when the theatre was destroyed by fire Nov. 29, 1985, arson the culprit. Through enormous effort of resident and extended company, multitudes of donors, and extraordinary funding activities and benetits, the mill theatre was back in business by December 1990 and the 144 seat theatre is flourishing today. So the theatre will not have to be performed in the hedgerows.