Water Mill in Suffolk County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The James Corwith Grist Mill
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 26, 2017
1. The James Corwith Grist Mill Marker
Built in 1800
at Sag Harbor
_________
Moved to this site in 1814
by James Corwith and operated
as a mill until 1887
_________
Tablet placed by
Southampton Colony Chapter
Daughters of the Revolution
Erected 1934 by Southampton Colony Chapter Daughters of the Revolution.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of the American Revolution series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1800.
Location. 40° 54.576′ N, 72° 21.234′ W. Marker is in Water Mill, New York, in Suffolk County. It is at the intersection of Montauk Highway and Old Mill Road, on the right when traveling east on Montauk Highway. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Water Mill NY 11976, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the New York City Metropolitan Area and on Long Island. It is also in the American Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Water Mill Rolls of Honor (within shouting distance of this marker); First Watermill (about 700 feet away, measured in a direct line); Lt. Colonel Lawrence R. Boyll, Sr. (approx. 2.4 miles away); General William Erskine Headquarters (approx. 2.4 miles away); North End Graveyard (approx. 2.4 miles away); The Old Fort (approx. 2½ miles away);
this page online
More about this marker. The marker is mounted on the mill, above the front entrance.
Also see . . .
1. Windmill at Water Mill, Montauk Highway & Halsey Lane, Water Mill, Suffolk County, NY. Library of Congress website entry:
Historic American Buildings Survey record for the Corwith mill, with photos and schematics, as well as a 35+ page essay on the history of the mill, including information on other windmills on Long Island. (Submitted on December 7, 2017.)
2. Water Mill Museum. Museum website homepage:
"The Corwith windmill is the smallest, and second oldest, of 11 surviving windmills on the South Fork of Long Island, which has the largest regional group of windmills in America. Of the local mills, it is the only example of the early type of smock mill, which had a stationary tower with a revolving cap that sat directly on a greased curb at the top of the tower Later smock windmills, such as the Hayground mill, had rollers on the curbs to facilitate rotating the cap and its wind sails." (Submitted on December 7, 2017.)
Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, November 26, 2017
2. The James Corwith Grist Mill and Marker
Postcard published by Holden's Stationery Shop, Southampton, NY (Albertype Co.), circa 1920
3. The Old Mill, Water Mill, Long Island, N.Y.
The Windmill at Water Mill is one of 11 extant late 18th and early 19th century wind-driven gristmills on eastern Long Island; it served the milling needs of local farmers when eastern Long Island was primarily a grain and cattle producing area lacking in sufficient water power. One of nine remaining windmills with major internals works, the mill structure and machinery offer important documentation of the wood joinery techniques used in 17th, 18th and 19th century American domestic and utilitarian architecture. The mill also helps document eastern Long Island's cultural and economic ties to New England, as well as the migration of millwriting technologies from England. - Historic American Buildings Survey
Credits. This page was last revised on March 31, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 7, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 1,108 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 7, 2017, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.
