Old Grist Mill

Feel free to walk all around the mill.  The building you are looking at, now known as the Nye Mill Museum, was built by one Oliver Jones in 1858 on the Bumps River in Centerville, 8 miles away. It was moved here in 1889 and placed on the site of the 1669 grist mill built by Benjamin Nye. Both Benjamin's original grist mill and Oliver Jones' 1858 mill were powered by water generated from the fresh spring across the street, which was fed through a culvert into a tub wheel in the basement. 

The 17th century mill built by Benjamin Nye has its origins in a story about the need for competition in the early days of Sandwich.  The town was settled in 1637, and was fortunate to have had a grist mill built the next year by an entrepreneur named Thomas Dexter.  By the 1660s, however, the townspeople were unhappy with the increased toll, or payment in grain for grinding demanded by the miller, Thomas Dexter Jr.  Unable to reach an agreement, the town meeting voted to give a generous land grant to anyone who would build another mill.  Benjamin Nye built the second gristmill on this site and received the land grant. His family established a milling business that serviced the East Sandwich Community and became a fixture of public life for the next two hundred years.

Next, carefully walk across the street toward the pond and dam.