Beebe Windmill facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Beebe Windmill
Beebe windmill
Origin
Mill name	Beebe mill
Mill location	Bridgehampton, New York
Coordinates	40°56′03″N 72°18′02″W / 40.9343°N 72.3006°W / 40.9343; -72.3006
Year built	1820
Information
Purpose	Corn mill
Type	Smock mill
Storeys	Four-story smock
Base storeys	A few courses of brick
Smock sides	Eight-sided smock
No. of sails	Four sails
Type of sails	Common sails
Windshaft	Wood
Winding	Fantail
Fantail blades	Eight blades
Auxiliary power	Steam engine
No. of pairs of millstones	Two pairs
Other information	Named after Lester Beebe, for whom it was built.
Beebe Windmill U.S. National Register of Historic Places Architect Tabor, Pardon T. MPS Long Island Wind and Tide Mills TR NRHP reference No. 78001918 Added to NRHP December 27, 1978

The Beebe Windmill is a very old and important windmill located in Bridgehampton, New York. It stands at the corner of Ocean Road and Hildreth Avenue. This windmill has a long history and unique features that make it special.

History of the Beebe Windmill

How the Mill Was Built and Moved

The Beebe Windmill was first built in 1820. It was made in Sag Harbor for a person named Lester Beebe. After Lester Beebe passed away, a woman named Rose Gelston bought the windmill. She had it moved to Bridgehampton. The mill then worked there for more than 50 years, grinding corn.

Changes Over Time

In 1882, James Sanford bought the windmill. He moved it to a new spot south of the railroad tracks. Later, a steam engine was added to the mill. This was a clever idea! It meant the mill could still work and grind corn even when there was no wind.

In 1888, a skilled builder named Nathaniel Dominy from Long Island fixed the mill. The next year, in 1889, the mill was moved again. This time, it went to a place north of the railroad. The Bridgehampton Milling Company used the windmill here until 1915.

Its Final Home

In 1915, John E. Berwind bought the windmill. He moved it to his summer home, which was called Minden. This is where the Beebe Windmill stands today.

Why This Windmill Is Special

The Beebe Windmill is very unique. In 1977, experts described it as one of the first windmills on Long Island to have special parts. These parts included a "fly" (also known as a fantail), "regulators," and gears made of cast iron. A fantail is a small windmill at the back that automatically turns the main sails into the wind. Regulators help control how fast the millstones turn.

The Beebe Windmill is the only one left with its original versions of these parts. It also has a special "decorative" design. Because of these features, it is the only surviving Long Island windmill that is similar to English windmills from the same time period. In 1978, the Beebe Windmill was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.

How the Beebe Windmill Works

Beebe smock mill in Bridgehampton

The Beebe Windmill is a four-story smock mill. This means it has a tall, tower-like body that gets narrower at the top. It has a special cap that looks like an "ogee" shape. A fantail on the back helps the cap turn to face the wind.

Inside the Mill

The windmill has four large Common sails (the big blades you see). These sails are attached to a strong wooden windshaft. The windshaft is a large axle that spins when the wind pushes the sails.

Connected to the windshaft is a wooden brake wheel. This wheel helps control the speed of the mill. The brake wheel turns a cast iron wallower. The wallower is a smaller gear at the top of a long, upright pole called the upright shaft.

At the bottom of the upright shaft, there's another cast iron gear called the great spur wheel. This big gear turns two pairs of overdrift millstones. These millstones are heavy, round stones that grind corn into flour. The term "overdrift" means the grain is fed into the center of the top stone.

Images for kids

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  The machinery of Beebe windmill, in a detailed drawing.