Baxter Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Baxter Mill
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Baxter Mill
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 Location in Cape Cod
Location in Massachusetts
Location in the United States
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| Location | MA 28, West Yarmouth, Massachusetts |
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| Built | 1710; expanded 1860; restored 1961 |
| NRHP reference No. | 81000120 |
| Added to NRHP | August 27, 1981 |
The Baxter Mill is a very old gristmill located in West Yarmouth, Massachusetts. A gristmill is a special building where grain, like corn or wheat, is ground into flour.
This mill was built around 1710. It was fixed up in 1961 so it could work again. It is the only water-powered mill from the 1700s still standing on Cape Cod. Today, the Baxter Mill is a museum. The town owns it, and the Yarmouth Historical Commission takes care of it. The mill was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. This list includes important historical places in the United States.
Contents
What is the Baxter Mill Like?
The Baxter Mill is found west of West Yarmouth's town center. It sits on a narrow piece of land. To the south is Massachusetts Route 28, and to the north is Mill Pond.
The mill is a small, two-story building made of wood. It is about 20 feet (6 meters) wide and 20 feet (6 meters) long. It has a hip roof and its outside walls are covered with shingles. There is a low stone wall around part of the mill. A stone channel helps water flow out of the pond.
How Old is the Baxter Mill?
The Baxter Mill was built around 1710 by John and Shubel Baxter. At first, it used a large waterwheel on the outside. This wheel helped power the mill. But outside wheels could get damaged in winter.
In 1860, the mill was updated. The outside waterwheel was replaced with a special machine called an internal turbine. This turbine was inside the building. The mill kept working until the early 1900s.
When Was the Mill Restored?
In 1961, the Baxter Mill was fixed up. It was made to work again, just like it used to. A new turbine was built to look like the old one. The original turbine from 1860 is still there. You can see it as part of the museum display.
The mill was given to the town of Yarmouth. Now, the Yarmouth Historical Commission runs it as a museum. It is open to visitors during certain times of the year.
See also
