Water Mill (Water Mill, New York) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Water Mill
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Water Mill, October 2008
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Old Mill Rd., Water Mill, New York |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1644 |
| Architect | Howell, Edward |
| NRHP reference No. | 83004175 |
| Added to NRHP | October 13, 1983 |
The Water Mill Museum is a super cool place to visit! It's an old water mill that has been turned into a museum. You can find it at 41 Old Mill Road in Water Mill, New York, which is in Suffolk County, New York, USA.
This building is quite old, dating back to the mid-1600s. It has two main parts and is made of strong wood with a shingle outside. For many years, it worked as a mill, grinding grains. But now, it's a fun museum where you can learn about local history.
The museum usually opens around Memorial Day each year. It has lots of family-friendly exhibits about the history of Water Mill, which was founded way back in 1644. There are often special events and experiences too! The museum is free to enter, and the first floor is easy to access for everyone.
You can find more details about visiting at: watermillmuseum.org. The museum is open Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11 AM to 4 PM, and Sundays from 1 PM to 4 PM.
The First Water Mill
The Water Mill Museum was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983. This means it's a really important historical site!
The very first mill in this area started grinding wheat, oats, and corn by 1644. It was located a little north of where the current museum stands, right on Mill Creek. English settlers from Lynn, Massachusetts, had moved to Southampton. One of these settlers was Miller Edward Howell. He already owned a water mill in Lynn.
Howell chose a 100-acre pond on Mill Creek, about three miles from Southampton, for his new mill. He was a town leader and convinced others to give him 39 acres by the pond. He also got help from workers and money to build the mill. The giant millstones used for grinding were cut from two large rocks found nearby.
Community mills like this often worked on a barter system. Farmers would bring their grain (called grist) to the miller. In return for grinding it, the miller would keep about 10% of the grain. These mills were usually built on public land for everyone to use.
Moving the Mill and Its History
In 1726, people decided to move the mill south. Then, it was moved again in 1790 to its current spot on Old Water Mill Road. The town gave permission for both moves. They also worked to make the mill run better by building a dam and a road at its new location.
The first mill used an "overshot wheel," where water flowed over the top. But at the new dam site, they used an "undershot wheel," where water flowed under the wheel. There's even a hint that at some point, they might have used a "horizontal tub water wheel" too!
The mill had many different owners over the years. William Ludlam Sr. bought it from Edward Howell in 1653. It stayed in the Ludlam family for more than 100 years. Later owners, like Elias Petty, William Foster, and Hugh Smith, explored new ways to use the mill's power for industry.
Jesse Hedges and John White also used the mill's power to weave cloth and make paper. In 1819, John Benedict arrived to work at the mill. He was a "fuller," someone who cleans and thickens wool cloth. By 1833, he owned the mill. The Benedict family continued to use the building for dyeing, spinning, weaving, and fulling wool. The mill still ground grain too.
When the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) started running nearby, less water flowed to the mill. So, in 1892, the Benedict family put in a red windpump windmill to help with grinding. This windmill was later removed. By the early 1900s, the mill was no longer working.
In 1921, a group called the Ladies Auxiliary of Water Mill (LAWM) started renting the building. They made important repairs. In 1942, they became the official owners of the mill. The LAWM began restoring the mill as a museum in 1968. By 1976, this historic water-powered grist mill was working again! It could even show how grinding was done in the 1700s.
Today, the Water Mill Museum hosts an annual quilt show. It also has permanent exhibits about the history of Water Mill. A non-profit group called the Water Mill Museum Inc. runs it now.
Images for kids
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The mill from Old Mill Street, May 2006
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Facing south to the entrance door, windmill at watermill
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NYS historic site plaque on Water Mill Road.
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Windmill facing east on Halsey Lane
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North of the mill where the first mill was built.
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