LONG ISLANDS OLD MILLS

[Curly]

There was a time when Long Island was a land of Mills. Wind, Water, Grist, Saw, Fulling, Tanning, Fabric & Paper just to name a few. They dotted the landscape and were a big part of our local economy. Times changed and these mills are now part of our history, long forgotten. However, many of these places still exist, some restored and some long abandoned. They are found all over Long Island, a standing testament to our bygone days....

In this thread I would like us to post photos/explanations/stories/tales of these old places. I would like our members help make this thread come alive. You all have a mill thats near your home. Get out, explore it, photograph it and post it here. You don’t need to be the best photographer, writer, etc. to help tell the stories of these places. Once we have accumulated a large number of mills, we will then decide which ones to feature on our main pages.

Let’s help keep our history alive and showcase it to all to see.

I'll start.

The Old Speonk Saw Mill.
A saw mill has operated on this location since the late 1700's. The brick building is dated to the late 1850's. First water powered and later converted to steam, this mills provided the lumber to build many Long Island towns.

[Richit]

Connetquot Grist Mill..


The mill was built on the Connetquot River sometime around 1750 by William Nicoll I. It was used by local farmers to grind wheat and corn and was functional until 1878.

It is one of few horizontal wheel mills left on the East Coast. The water wheel was located beneath the mill rather than to its side as many other mills operate.

The State restored the mill in the mid 1970's so it could be made available to the public through educational programs.

The Mill is located within Connetquot State Park Preserve, which consists of 3,473 acres, located in Oakdale NY.


Presently being restored and looking for more funds to complete.

[Nasus]

VERY nice job with the pics and info guys.

[Bruce]

In the mid 70's for a couple of summers, I worked for a retired army general who had the below windmill on his estate on the ocean in East Hampton. It is called the Hayground Mill, purchased and moved on skids along the beach from Watermill to East Hampton in the early 50's. I had the keys to the old mill so I could investigate it anytime. A lot of initials carved inside dating back to 1912 and before. They actually had sails on this thing, and had it up and running grinding wheat, a couple of times. Maintenance was a nightmare, with arms blowing off during storms, etc. A true rich man's toy, but cool to have your own windmill if you got the bucks.



Hayground Mill, located on Windmill Lane, East Hampton, circa early 1970's

[Curly]

THE PANTIGO MILL

Samuel Schellinger began building the Pantigo Windmill on Mill Hill for Huntting Miller in March 1804. The Mill Hill had been built up from a natural rise in 1729 on the common at the south end of East Hampton. Ownership changed over a period of years and the mill was moved to the corner of Pantigo Road and Egypt Lane where it stood for 72 years until 1917 when Gustav Buek purchased the mill and moved it to his 17th Century house, known as Home Sweet Home.

[Curly]

The Stony Brook Grist Mill was built in 1751 by Adam Smith. The original Grist Mill was built in 1699. They built a second one because the first one got washed away in a flood. Water from the millpond across the street flows under the street to the wheel, which powers the mill. It turns a series of gears and wheels, which turns the huge millstones.

[Curly]

The 1798 Grist Mill. Located in Blydenburg Park, this is the last of three mills that once stood in the area. In 1798 three cousins, Joshua Smith II, Caleb Smith II, & Isaac Blydenburgh damed the headwaters of the Nissequogue River and built the Grist Mill ans a Saw Mill. The only remains other than the Grist mill are the foundations of the Saw Mill.

The Grist Mill


Part of the Saw Mill Foundation. Most is hidden by foliage and hard to find.

[Nasus]

Enjoying these mills....keepem coming please!

[DOC]

HASN'T CHANGED MUCH SINCE I WAS THERE 2.5 YEARS AGO!

[Richit]

Stony Brook Grist mill...