This list of Long Islands watermills comprises a selection of European watermills spanning the period from the Dutch colony of Neiuw Amsterdam to the English settlement of the North fork, from 1640 to 1900 AD.[1][2]
A tide mill is a water mill driven by tidal rise and fall. A dam with a sluice is created across a suitable tidal inlet, or a section of river estuary is made into a reservoir. As the tide comes in, it enters the mill pond through a one-way gate, and this gate closes automatically when the tide begins to fall. When the tide is low enough, the stored water can be released to turn a water wheel.[3]
Tide mills are usually situated in river estuaries, away from the effects of waves but close enough to the sea to have a reasonable tidal range. Cultures that built such mills have existed since the Middle Ages, and some may date back to the Roman period.[4]
Adam Brouwer (Original proprietor), John C. Freeke (Late 18th century), Jan Evertse Bout (Land owner), Isaac Deforest (Business partner).[5]
Freeke's Mills with Yellow Mills in the Distance, burnt on the 27th of Aug. 1776 while the Americans were retreating across Gowanus Creek (NYPL b12610187-423823)
1643 (Richard Brutnell), later owned by William Herrick and Thomas Wandell
Richard Brutnell's plantation, deeded to him in 1643, later came into the possession of William Herrick. Herrick's widow married Thomas Wandell, who was living on the Bushwick shore of Newtown Creek as far back as 1648. Wandell enlarged the property by purchase, and it became later known as the Alsop farm.[6]
Burger Jorrisen (Original proprietor), Bragaw, Parcell, Polhemus and Ryerson (Late 18th century), Payntar family (1831-61). The first ancient road in Maspeth was an Indian pathway used by Dutch colonists, running from Burger Jorrissen’s tide mill to the East River’s Ferry House. In 1642, English settlers extended it to their Newtown Creek settlement, naming it Ferry Road. Today, parts of 57th Avenue (formerly Creek Street and Old Flushing Avenue) cover this path.[7]
The Thurston's Creek/Springfield Grist Mill, located at Thurston's Creek/Springfield Gardens in present day Laurelton, New York, United States,[8] Baisley Pond was named for a 19th century farmer who had a gristmill there that had been built in the 18th century.
The Haviland Mill in East Rockaway has a history dating back to 1689. Robert Davison, returning from his service during the American Revolution, found employment in the mill of Anthony DeMott, despite DeMott's loyalty to the British crown during the war. Despite DeMott's involvement in signaling to loyalist militia during a skirmish near the property in 1776, Davison and DeMott apparently had an amicable relationship. Davison worked in DeMott's mill for several years and eventually married DeMott's daughter, Nancy Ann.[13]
Haviland-Davison Grist Mill, as seen in November 2014.[14]
Reverend Mordecai "Rock" Smith, a miller by trade, owned and operated the mill, which was situated near Parsonage Creek on the Merrick and Jamaica Plank Road (Jamaica Ave) in Rockville Centre. During the Revolutionary War, the mill was operated by Anthony DeMott. Robert Davison, who served during the American Revolution, worked in DeMott's mill and later purchased the old Haviland mill in East Rockaway.
First decade of the 18th century (Exact date unknown), between 1715 and 1741
The Roslyn Grist Mill, located along Old Northern Boulevard in Roslyn, New York, United States, has a long history dating back to the early 18th century. John Robeson built the original gristmill on the site during the first decade of the 18th century. Robeson later sold the mill to Jeremiah Williams. Williams is believed to have constructed the current mill sometime between 1715 and 1741. After passing through several owners, the mill became the property of Hendrick Onderdonk in 1758. Onderdonk, who already operated two paper mills in the settlement then known as Hempstead Harbor, took over the operation of the Roslyn Grist Mill. Owners- John Robeson, Jeremiah Williams, Hendrick Onderdonk[15]
c. 1700 (constructed), restored to mid-19th-century appearance
The Saddle Rock Grist Mill is a historic grist mill building located in Saddle Rock, a village in the town of North Hempstead in Nassau County, New York. The mill is a 2+1⁄2-story gambrel-roofed structure, adjacent to a stream-fed millpond supplemented by tidal water impounded by the dam. Dating to the 18th century, it is the only extant, operating tidal grist mill on Long Island. The building underwent restoration in the 1950s and is operated as a local history museum, overlooking Little Neck Bay.[16]
Carpenter's Sawmill, also known as Carpenters Sawmill, was established in 1661 by Joseph Carpenter. It was located in Glen Cove, originally known as Mosquetah, later Musketo Cove, and at one time Pembroke. The sawmill was granted land on both sides of the river at Musketo Cove to settle two or three plantations and a saw and fulling mill. It was carried away by a freshet in 1699.[17][18][19]
Carpenter's Fulling Mill, also known as Carpenters Fulling Mill, was established in 1661 by Joseph Carpenter. It was located in Glen Cove, originally known as Mosquetah, later Musketo Cove, and at one time Pembroke. The fulling mill was granted land on both sides of the river at Musketo Cove to settle two or three plantations and a saw and fulling mill.
Dosoris is situated on the Sound, two miles north of Glen Cove. Captain John Butler purchased East Island in 1760 and built the first flouring mill of Dosoris on the dam between East Island and the mainland. His son-in-law, Nathaniel Coles, added by purchase the remainder of the Woolsey estate, and his four sons erected two more mills on the dam between the two islands. The first mill was taken down, and the two others were destroyed by fire.[17]
1860 (Higginson's map of Kings and a large part of Queens counties)
Heemstede is situated mid-island, two miles south of Glen Cove. Along the Mill river from Mineola to Rockville Center are 3 gristmills, Nicholls, Oliver and Langdon ending at Hempstead pond near Rockville. Until 1899 this was considered Queens County.[17]
Baldwin is situated on Hicks Neck, north of Baldwin Bay between the Parsonage creek and Millburn creek. Along the Millburn creek where the Meroke Indian made Wampum, John Pine built a gristmill that served the Hicks settlement.[20]
Jerusalem is situated around Seaman Pond, 2 Miles north of the Jones beach causway. COL. JOHN JACKSON GRANTED WHOLE LIBERTY AND PRIVILEGE JERUSALEM RIVER 1704; ALSO CONBURY PATENT 1708 FROM QUEEN ANNE. Early settler accounts refer to Wantagh as "Jerusalem", Wantagh was the sachem (chief) of the Merokee tribe in 1647. The creek running north–south through Wantagh, and which has been covered up in many places but is still visible between the Wantagh Parkway and the housing developments west of Wantagh Avenue, was originally the Jerusalem River.
Near this site in 1814, Charles "Squire” Mott constructed a dam at Swan River and put a grist mill on it and, adjacent to it, a home. Mills like Squire Mott's, and later factories on Patchogue's three streams, established it as a manufacturing center on the south shore of Long Island earning Patchogue its first nickname, "Milltown". The Union Twine and Swan River Mills, occupied in the manufacture of carpet warp and twine, also give employment to many people.[24]
The Stony Brook Grist Mill is a Registered Historic Place property in Stony Brook, Suffolk County, New York. Its construction in 1699 created the Mill Pond astride the Brookhaven-Smithtown boundary. The mill structure itself dates back to at least circa 1751. Today, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization owns and operates the mill as a working mill museum.[25]
The Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill is a historic tide mill located at Lloyd Harbor in Suffolk County, New York. It was built about 1793 and is a 3+1⁄2-story, gable-roofed, timber-framed rectangular building little altered since the early 19th century. The property also includes the earthen mill dam with sluice gates. The Nature Conservancy, which owns the mill, offers free boat tours to the site from May through October.[27]
EXTERIOR, LOOKING NORTHWEST - Lefferts Tide Mill, Huntington Harbor, Southdown Road, Huntington, Suffolk County, NY HAER NY,52-LOHA,2-2
The Benedict Tide Mill, also known as Benedict Mill, was erected in the 1640s by Thomas Benedict. It holds a place of distinction in American history as the first recorded English mill in the New World. Located in Southold, it was the first mill on Long Island's east end. Utilizing English waterwheel mill technology, it harnessed the power of the tides in what was once known as Benedict's Creek, then Tom's Creek, and now, Mill Creek.
The Peconic or Goldsmith Inlet Grist Mill, located at Goldsmith's Inlet in the Town of Southold on the North Fork of Long Island, New York, had its beginnings in 1836 when plans were first made for its construction. Built as a tidal mill on the inlet, construction started in 1839 and was completed in 1840. The windmill was added in 1870 and was damaged in the hurricane of 1989. Razed 1906. The original Vail windmill was at this site.
Patented to Stephen Van Cortlandt, in 1697; east of this neck was the land granted to John Mowbray, in 1708, extending to the Oriwie Creek. Mowbray acquired this tract of land from the Van Cortlandt brothers, who had bought it from the Secatoag five years prior, viz, in 1703. Papermill built 1820Paper mill built 1820[28]
The Water Mill Museum is a historic water mill and local history museum located at 41 Old Mill Road, Water Mill in Suffolk County, New York, USA. The museum is housed in a 2-story, heavy wood-frame structure with a wood-shingle exterior, consisting of two building sections. It features a 2-story, square-shaped main section and a 1-story, one-bay wing. Attached to the rear is a 2+1⁄2-story tower and 1-story glassed-in porch. The mill structure dates back to the mid-17th century and operated as a mill until the early 20th century. When the LIRR right of way slowed the flow of water a windmill was added, after a successful lawsuit and return of the water it was removed.
^Long Island Rail Road. Long Island illustrated. [Long Island City, N.Y., H. M. Smith, gen'l passenger agent, 1903] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/17019463/.
^Roger, H., Charlier. (2003). A “sleeper” awakes: tidal current power. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 7(6):515-529. doi: 10.1016/S1364-0321(03)00079-0
^Roger, H., Charlier., Marie, Claire, P., Chaineux., Selim, A., Morcos. (2004). Panorama of the History of Coastal Protection. Journal of Coastal Research, 21(1):79-111. doi: 10.2112/03561.1
^Long Island Rail Road. Long Island illustrated. [Long Island City, N.Y., H. M. Smith, gen'l passenger agent, 1903] Pdf. https://www.loc.gov/item/17019463/.
.jpg)
_108a_-_Rockaway_Blvd_Brookville_Blvd.jpg)
_089_-_Idlewild_Park.jpg)
.jpg)
_(14798787093).jpg)
