Roslyn Grist Mill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Roslyn Grist Mill
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Rear elevation of mill, with modern
culvert, during 2008 renovations. |
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| Location | Roslyn, NY |
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| Nearest city | Glen Cove |
| Built | ca. 1715–1741 |
| MPS | Roslyn Village Multiple Resource Area |
| NRHP reference No. | 86002638 |
| Added to NRHP | October 2, 1986 |
The Roslyn Grist Mill is a very old building located in Roslyn, New York. It was built a long time ago, likely between 1715 and 1741. This mill is special because it's one of the few remaining Dutch colonial buildings in the United States that was used for business. In 1986, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Today, it is being fixed up to become a museum where people can learn about its history.
Contents
Discover the Mill's Design
The Roslyn Grist Mill is a rectangular building with two and a half stories. It is about 50 feet long and 25 feet wide. The original wooden frame of the building is still there. This frame uses a special way of building with posts and beams. Today, the outside of the mill is covered with weatherboard (wooden planks).
On the west side, there's a smaller wing with one and a half stories. This part sits above the mill race, which is a channel for water. North of the mill is a pond. Water from this pond eventually flows into Long Island Sound.
Over the years, the ground floor of the mill has changed. It used to be about 12 feet below street level. This was due to the tides and changes made to the building's foundation. In the attic, there is a special double door that opens with a hook and pulley system. The windows on the mill are not placed evenly. Some have been added over time, and others have been covered up. As of 1986, some of the original milling parts, like gears, were still inside.
A Look at the Mill's History
A gristmill has been on this spot since the early 1700s. John Robeson built the first one. Later, Jeremiah Williams bought the land. It's believed he built the mill we see today sometime between 1715 and 1741.
In 1758, Hendrick Onderdonk bought the mill. He already owned two paper mills in the area, which was then called Hempstead Harbor. Onderdonk ran the mill very well. Even George Washington visited the mill in 1790 and wrote about it in his diary!
The Onderdonk family sold the mill in 1801. It changed hands again and in 1849, the Hicks family bought it. They continued to use it as a mill until 1916. After that, they changed it into a tea house and a museum. This continued until 1975, when the Nassau County parks department took over.
Bringing the Mill Back to Life
When Nassau County owned the mill, it stayed empty for many years. No one could find a new use for it, and the building started to fall apart.
In the 2000s, people in Roslyn decided to help. They worked with the county to start fixing up the mill. This project is expected to cost about $2 million. The money comes from the county, the village, and donations from the community. As part of the work, the mill will be raised back up to street level. Once the repairs are done, the county will give the mill to the village. The Roslyn Landmark Society will then run it as a museum. It will teach visitors about the water-powered businesses that were once common in the village.
In 2020, during the restoration work, something exciting was found! Workers discovered a "time capsule" hidden in concrete. It was from an earlier restoration in 1917. George Gorski, a carpenter, found a small milk bottle from a company called Alex Campbell Milk Co. Inside the bottle were four old coins: a Civil War Army & Navy token from 1863, an Indian head penny from 1881, a Haitian 20 centimes coin from 1863, and another Indian head penny from 1905.
There were also two letters. One was in English but hard to read. The other was in Italian, written by an artisan named Romolo Caparelli from Pico, Italy. A professor from Stony Brook University translated this letter. It will be shown at the mill when the restoration is finished. The other letter was from Steven Speedling, a builder from Roslyn. He was a descendant of a Hessian soldier from the American Revolution. His letter listed the workers who helped with the 1917 restoration.
See also
- List of tide mills on Long Island
