The Old Mill (Nantucket, Massachusetts) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Old Mill
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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2015 photo
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| Location | Nantucket, Massachusetts |
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| Area | Nantucket Historic District |
| Built | 1746 |
| Website | https://www.nha.org/sites/oldmill.html |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000772 |
| Added to NRHP | 1966 |
The Old Mill is a very old windmill in Nantucket, Massachusetts. It was built in 1746. This makes it the oldest windmill in the United States that still works!
Today, the Nantucket Historical Association owns and runs the mill. It is a museum where people can learn about its history. The Old Mill is also a special part of the Nantucket Historic District. In 1992, it was named a Historic Mechanical Engineering Landmark. This means it's an important machine from history.
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History of the Old Mill
The Old Mill is the only one left of four windmills that used to stand on Nantucket Island. A sailor named Nathan Wilbur built it in 1746. He had visited Holland and learned about windmills there.
Nathan Wilbur used strong oak beams to build the mill. These beams came from old ships that had crashed and washed ashore. He put the mill together using wooden pins and pieces of scrap metal.
Changes in Ownership
In 1828, the Old Mill was sold for just twenty dollars. It was in very bad shape back then. But a carpenter named Jared Gardner bought it. Instead of taking it apart, he fixed it up.
Gardner made the mill work again. It could grind corn into meal. The mill was sold again in 1866 to John Francis Sylvia. He ran it for many years with his helper, Peter Hoy.
The mill stopped being used in 1892. Then, in 1897, a woman named Caroline French bought it at an auction. She paid $850 for it. Caroline French then gave the mill to the Nantucket Historical Association. They have taken care of it ever since.
How the Old Mill Works
The Old Mill stands 50 feet (about 15 meters) tall. It has four large blades, called vanes, that are 30 feet (about 9 meters) long. These vanes catch the wind.
Inside the Mill
Inside the mill, there is a big driving wheel at the top. This wheel is connected to the vanes. The main part of the mill stays still, but a cap on top can turn. This lets the vanes face the wind, no matter which way it blows.
Wooden gears stick out from the driving wheel. These gears connect to another set of wooden teeth on a tall, straight shaft. When the shaft turns, it spins the top grindstone. This grindstone then grinds corn into meal.
Stopping the Mill
The mill also has a simple brake system. It uses a heavy oak beam. This beam is attached to a rope and pulley. The rope connects to a box filled with heavy stones.
Workers can raise or lower the box of stones. When the box is lowered, it presses the oak beam against the windmill shaft. This helps to slow down or stop the mill when the wind is too strong.
Grinding Corn Today
During certain times of the year, visitors can go inside the Old Mill. They can watch the gears turn and see how corn is ground. The mill can produce about 5 bushels of cornmeal every hour. It's a great way to see history in action!
