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Originally published in the Historic Nantucket, Vol. 18, No. 2 (October 1970), p. 11-15

Mills on Nantucket
By Sally Lamb

The records tell us that in 1666 the first settlers built a water-mill on Wesquo Pond (the remnant of which is the present Lily Pond).

On June 10th, 1667, Peter Foulger was appointed to keep this mill for "two quarts in a bushel for his labor in grinding and to keep the running gear in order to beat the stones."

"In 1668 William Bunker engaged to maintain the running gears and the hollow trees at the pond and the flume at the head of the mills."

"In 1672 William Bunker agreed to build a corn mill. This was objected to by Tristram Coffin and the town gave him the job of building the mill." It was probably on Wesquo Pond. Subsequently the old mill was converted into a fulling mill by Captain John Gardner. All later mills were built by private enterprise.

There were three mills in operation at the time of the Revolutionary War. These mills proved to be of great service to the Continental forces as a means of signalling the presence and position of the British cruisers which were constantly in the vicinity of the Island. The vanes were set to indicate the direction of the foe and thus assisted many a full freighted ship to dodge the bulldogs of John Bull.

THE EAST MILL

The East Mill, situated at the head of South Mill Street, was built in 1746. A company of men contracted with a man by the name of Wilbur and built it. Mr. Wilbur, on leaving the Island with the money obtained for the contract, was waylaid, robbed and murdered, after reaching the mainland.

Eliakim Swain owned one half and John Hay one half. After the death of Eliakim Swain in 1750, it was purchased by his son Timothy Swain. After the latter's death, it was bought by Charles Swain and was known as Charles Swain's Mill in 1766 and as late as 1776. It was run next by Charles Swain's grandson, Nathan, son of Elisha and Margaret Swain. It was used until 182,8, when a meeting of the owners was called at the house of Obed Macy on Pleasant Street. Captain Jared Gardner reported that the condition of the mill was deplorable; everything movable had been removed, even to one vane and the lower shingles.

Sylvanus Macy said to Jared, "What will thee give for the mill, without the stones?" Mr. Gardner replied, "Not one cent." Mr. Gardner later offered twenty dollars which was accepted. When Captain Gardner came to examine the building, he found the frame to be of solid oak, in good order, and concluded to repair it. His son Jared carved the date, 1746, on the step.

In an old "Inquirer" has been found this notice: "East Mill for sale in good repair. Will be sold if applied for, on accommodation plan by subscriber, Jared Gardner. June 23, 1840."

In 1843 this mill was run by Captain Obadiah Coffin. Afterwards it was bought by George Enas. The latter sold it to Captain John Murray in 1864, and after running it for two years, he sold it to John Francis Sylvia, who ran it for thirty years. After the death of Mr. Sylvia, it was sold at public auction on the Square, and purchased by the Nantucket Historical Association.

Many accidents have been reported to have occurred at this mill. At one time, while strolling about the mill, Miss Margaret Fuller fell into the hopper and was seriously injured.

Mr. John W. Cook and wife were sitting on the vane, in company with Miss Caroline Dewsburg, when the vane suddenly started to revolve. Mr. and Mrs. Cook jumped off quickly, but Miss Dewsburg made one revolution with the vane, then fell off and broke her leg!

This old mill, the last of its kind, is the most distinctive and interesting of Nantucket landmarks, and is visited by thousands every summer season.

THE ROUND-TOP MILL

The Round-Top (North) Mill was situated on the high ground near the North Cemetery, to the north of what the people call the "mill pond," and only a few feet from the road which now connects Grove Lane with North Liberty Street.

The "round-top mill" was distinguished from the other mills on Nantucket by the peculiar shape of its roof and by the absence of the long "tail" that was used for turning the top of the other mills up "into the wind." It was actually the last mill built on Nantucket for grinding corn, having been erected in 1802 by Joseph Chase.

"Joe Chase's Mill," as it was commonly known, had a wheel attached to one side of the top, over which an endless rope ran, hanging nearly to the ground. This wheel was about twelve feet in diameter, and the contrivance served the same purpose as the long tail on the "Old Mill," it being set in motion very easily. It is said that at one time the miller's assistant, being alone when a lot of corn was to be ground, happened to pull down on the wrong side of the hanging rope, which caused the vanes to revolve so swiftly that the stones in the hopper became heated and came near setting the building on fire. A passerby, having more presence of mind than the assistant miller, ran up to the mill and gave a pull on the rope which immediately stopped the vanes.

Captain Joseph Chase operated the mill up to a short time before his death in 1832, when it went into the possession of his brother, and from that time on passed through numerous ownerships. It was finally taken down in 1873, and one of its millstones was used in the base of the Soldier's Monument on Main Street, which was erected in 1874. The other stone was in use in Cormie's blacksmith shop on South Water Street.

The father of the late Charles E. Snow was keeper of the Round-Top Mill.

THE RED MILL

The Red Mill was situated at the head of New Mill Street, on Election Hill, or Brimstone Hill, now Prospect Hill.

The mill was built in 1779, it is not known by whom. It was owned and run by Matthew Worth at an early date, but in 1799, was known as the Charles Bunker Mill.

After 1830, this mill seemed to be owned by Abisha Paddock, and Captain Zimri Coffin ran it for him. He was married to Mr. Paddock's daughter. It was later run by Joseph Whippey in 1836.

In 1837 it was owned by Prince Gardner and his son Charles.

Captain Israel Mowry owned and operated it for a short time. (No date known.)

The last owner was George Enas, who took down this mill about 1859, as he also owned the East Mill and there was not enough business for two mills.

THE SPIDER MILL

The Spider Mill was situated at Prospect Hill Cemetery, on the right hand side of the head of Joy Street. This mill was built in 1759. It was known as the Samuel Bunker Mill up until 1796.

This mill, previous to 1821, looked the same as the other three mills situated along side. It had vanes and a long tail. It was later equipped with eight horizontal bars radiating from the top, to each of which, when running, a jib-shaped sail was attached.

This mill was taken down about 1840 and some of the stones were used in the entrance of the Prospect Hill Cemetery.

The names of the different keepers of this mill are not known to us today.

BARNA BUNKER MILL

The Barna Bunker Mill was the first to be situated on the Mill Hills, not far from the site of the present Old Mill. It was built in 1723 by a Mr. Macy.

This mill was operated at late as 1820.

It was blown up in 1836 as an experiment for controlling fires in the town. Subsequently four other mills were built on the Popsquachett Hills, three of which stood in a line running westerly from the existing mill.