SPOOM NE News

From the Fall 2001 Newsletter

The Middletown, Rhode Island, Historical Society celebrated the dedication and listing on the National Historic Register of the restored Boyd's Mill, a magnificent 8-vaned windmill (ca. 1810) on October 21.

News on the Tide Mill front: John Goff, who has led the effort to preserve the Souther Tide Mill in Quincy, Massachusetts, reports that CVS acquired the entire five-acre parcel from the Souther estate, then donated the mill and some adjacent land to a newly established nonprofit entity, the Souther Tide Mill Historical Association. The aim is to restore the mill to working order and to establish a Tide Mill Museum on the premises.

More recently, the Slade's Mill in Revere was purchased by Chapter member Robert Brooker. This structure is also in surprisingly good shape and will be restored to some public use.

A number of hair-raising stories were reported by SPOOMers stranded at Logan Airport on Tuesday, September 11, on their way home from the Quebec meeting. Lisa Riggs of the Danish Windmill in Elkhorn, Iowa, and the American Chapter of TIMS, had boarded her flight at 9 AM when the engines were shut down. Then, she wrote: "I saw the Captain proceed slowly down the aisle and look everyone over very closely. In a very calm voice he explained to small rows one at a time that something terrible had happened in New York City…." The airport did not reopen until Saturday, when she was finally able to return to Iowa.

Paid chapter membership for 2001 is 108 (80 regular members, 28 sustaining). Of these, 38 are from New York, 24 from Massachusetts, 13 from New Jersey and 10 from Connecticut, followed by Rhode Island 8, New Hampshire 5, Vermont 5, Maine 2, Pennsylvania 2, and one each from Michigan and Ontario.

THE NESBITT CIDER MILL

On September 22, the Mendham, New Jersey, Historic Preservation Committee hosted a tour of the Nesbitt Mill for persons actively engaged in preservation. The Northeast Chapter was represented by Harold and Rachel Rapp and David and Linda Bronson. They report that this 3 story stone mill was originally built as a Grist Mill with two sets of stones in 1848. It was powered by an enclosed breast wheel in the lower level. The mill continued producing flour through the 1880s, then was vacant until 1908 when it was sold to the Loughlin family and converted to the production of cider and "Tiger" brand applejack. A turbine was installed during this conversion.

Typical cider mills would operate for three or four months a year during the peak season for apples and peaches. Pressed into cider and distilled into Applejack and Peach Brandy, fruit became the main cash crop for the local farmers. During prohibition, a distillery was set up for a while behind the front wall, with its smoke directed through the roof at night so it would not draw attention. Then the distillery operation was discontinued though cider was produced through the late 1930s when it closed. This was one of several Cider Mills/Distilleries that once flourished in Mendham Township.

With its complete inventory of equipment, the Nesbitt Mill is the only remaining mill in New Jersey restorable as a turn-of-the century cider mill. The two apple presses, which are still extant, have a unique three-way track system that can serve two pressing beds at the same time. While one press is functioning the other bed can be drawn out of the press and rolled at a right angle away from the middle of the presses, moved to the back end of the mill in order to be cleaned off, and then refilled before being rolled back into the press.

The building has some structural damage due to weather but the equipment seems in reasonable condition. A facilities assessment is currently underway to determine the feasibility and needs for restoring it to an operating mill. In addition to its listing as one of the county's 10 most threatened sites, the Nesbitt Mill is also listed with both federal and state agencies as part of the Ralston Historic District. The building is privately owned, but the Township Committee, the building and owner are working together to ensure its survival.

SPOOM NORTHEAST BULLETIN No. 2 (February 2000)

NEW TIDE MILL BOOK
The Arlington, Massachusetts Historical Society has published a facsimile edition of John Townsend Trowbridge's 1882 novel, "The Tinkham Brothers' Tide Mill," with an introductory essay by Richard A. Duffy. The novel is based on real events that took place at a tide mill on the Mystic River in Arlington. This special expanded edition includes an extensive illustrated essay on the technology and history of tide mills in the Boston area, from early colonial times into the 20th century. The book is available for &9.95 plus $3.00 shipping and handling for the first book; $1.00 for each additional book. Mass. residents add 5% sales tax ($0.45) per book.

Send check or money order to:
Arlington Historical Society
7 Jason Street
Arlington, MA 02476-6410.
E mail inquires: mailto:TinkhamTideMill@aol.com

THE GRIST MILL AT THE BISBEE MILL MUSEUM
Work has begun on the restoration of the Grist Mill at the Bisbee Mill Museum, 66 East Street, Chesterfield, Mass. The work is under the direction of Northeast Chapter member Stuart Harris of Ashfield. The Museum is owned by the Chesterfield Historical Society, whose president Charles A. Bisbee Jr., is in charge of the project. The Massachusetts Historical Commission has declared the building eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and work is proceeding to accomplish the final paper work. The original part of this mill was built in 1823 and has been added to four times over the years. The Grist Mill section is believed to have been at another location on the property and was moved to become part of the present structure around 1850. The mill ceased operations in 1929. It was originally run by water power received by way of a canal from a small pond created about 1200 feet north of the mill. The building also contains an old blacksmith shop where wheels and other items were made, and a woodworking shop which produced broom handles, wagons, sleds, wood whip butts, and even caskets. The Museum area currently holds 300 exhibits of historic items, from an 1835 horse-drawn hearse to historic agricultural and other tools. In the reconstruction process, old chestnut timbers under the mill were found to be in need of replacement and they have been replaced by white oak timbers, replicating the original mortise and tenon construction. Most of this stage of the work has been completed, but much more remains to be done. It is hoped that the grist mill stones will be running on July 4, 2000, in connection with the town's parade and celebration. However, it will be operated by either an electric motor or an antique gasoline engine. The decision as to whether water power will be restored has yet to be made. For more information, visit the Bisbee Mill web sites: www.hamphillsbandb.com/bisbeemill and http://community.masslive.com/cc/mill%20museum or call (413) 296-4750 or
(413) 296-4384.

RESTORED JUDAH BAKER WINDMILL OPEN TO PUBLIC
The Judah Baker Windmill in Yarmouth, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, was built in 1791 overlooking Grand Cove in what is now the neighboring town of Dennis. The mill was often owned or operated by retired sea captains who were weather experts and kept a watchful eye for sudden changes in the wind. It is a "smock mill" with an unusual conical cap and one dormer. It ground several kinds of grain and if the wind was favorable, could grind three bushels of corn per hour. The mill was well used and was moved to South Yarmouth after the Civil War. It last operated in 1891. The interior and exterior of the structure have undergone a complete historical restoration in 1999 with the support of the Massachusetts Preservation Project Fund of the Massachusetts Historical Society. The windmill is open to the public twice a week from Memorial Day through Columbus Day. For information, call the Yarmouth Historical Commission at 508-398-2231 ext. 292.

LONG ISLAND CHAPTER MEETING
The annual Chapter mill tour will take on Long Island, Friday-Sunday May 5-7.
Full information will be provided in late March. You can access this information by clicking the "Upcoming Events" button below or here.

SPOOM NORTHEAST BULLETIN No. 1 (January 2000)

MILL PROPERTIES FOR SALE
The John Ashley Gristmill on Rte. 7a in Ashley Falls, Massachusetts is for sale. This is a restored, 40' x 40' post-and-beam structure which operated until 1955. It has been restored to character and is complete with stones, gearing, turbines, grain elevators, bins and so forth. Has additional 2.5 acres with an island created by the mill race that used to have two other mills (a cider mill and a nail mill). Excellent terms (150K, no broker, owner will finance first mortgage). Call Pat Chiacchia (508-473-6730).

Ken Gernold is selling Gilbert Mills in Honeoye Falls, New York (15020 minutes south of Rochester), with adjacent Old English Bank Barn. The mill is a post-and-beam structure from the early 19th century, restored as a house. (716-226-3331).

ARCHEOLOGICAL FIND IN BOSTON
The Boston Globe reported on January 14 the discovery of a colonial tide mill by archeologists working in the "Big Dig" project. The discovery includes not only two intact five-foot diameter mill stones but also part of the main wooden drive wheel. The mill was located along Mill Creek, now buried ten feet under Blackstone Street. Mill Creek was dug in 1643 from Mill Pond (alongside present-day Haymarket) to the harbor near Faneuil Hall. NE Chapter member, John Goff (who heads the International Tide Mill Museum project) has been following the case closely; there is talk of a possible exhibit with the Mill Creek discovery as the focal point; and there will be an article in a future edition of Old Mill News.

HISTORIC MILLS OF AMERICA BOOK
This is an illustrated volume on American mills, more or less under national SPOOM's sponsorship, which was offered to members last summer at a pre-publication price. The publication date is January 2000, so those who subscribed can expect to receive copies in the reasonably near future.

WINDMILL WHISPERS . . .
. . . is the quarterly bulletin of The Windmill Study Unit of the American Topical Association. The Unit is interested in "Philatelic Molinology" and the Bulletin offers up-to-date information on mill-related stamps, cancelations, postal stationery, other government issues such as lottery tickets, and non-governmental items like wine, olive-oil and other commercial labels. Membership is $12 a year, payable by check to the treasurer, Mr. Orville Tysseling, 6125 Teagarden Circle, Dayton, OH 45449-3013. If curious mill STUFF grabs you, this is for you!