Scituate in Plymouth County, Massachusetts — The American Northeast (New England)

Old Stockbridge Grist Mill

HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino, January 25, 2023

1. Old Stockbridge Grist Mill Marker

Oldest mill in America historical sign

Inscription. In 1640 Isaac Stedman dammed up First Herring Brook and beside the pond thus formed, constructed the first water driven grist mill in the old colony. The mill owned and operated by the Stockbridge and Clapp families until 1922 was made famous in 1817 by Samuel Woodworth in his poem “The Old Oaken Bucket.” In 1922 the Clapp family deeded it to the Scituate Historical Society and it was restored to its original working condition in 1970.

Erected 1976 by Scituate Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Colonial Era • Landmarks • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1640.

Location. 42° 10.666′ N, 70° 44.965′ W. Marker is in Scituate, Massachusetts, in Plymouth County. It is on Country Way just north of the Greenbush Rotary, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Scituate MA 02066, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on the South Shore.

It is also in the American Northeast

and in New England.

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 one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Site of Stockbridge Mansion (within shouting distance of this marker); The Old Oaken Bucket (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mann Historical Museum (approx. one mile away); First Training Field

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(approx. 1.1 miles away); Site of the First Church (approx. 1.3 miles away); First Meeting House (approx. 1.3 miles away); Men of Kent Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Cudworth House (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Scituate.

Regarding Old Stockbridge Grist Mill. The mill is mentioned in the following lines of Samuel Woodworth’s poem:
The wide spreading pond, and the mill that stood by it,
The bridge and the rock where the cataract fell...

Also see . . .
1. Midi file. Lyrics and melody for Samuel Woodworth's poem. (Submitted on November 15, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts.)

2. The oldest mill in America.

Stockbridge Grist Mill located in Scituate, Massachusetts is the oldest mill in America of any kind.

(Submitted on August 24, 2023, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York.)

Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

2. Old Stockbridge Grist Mill Marker

The Restored Mill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Roger W. Sinnott, November 3, 2009

3. The Restored Mill

The mill pond lies directly across heavily traveled Country Way, toward right. The Greenbush Rotary on Route 3A is visible in the distance.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 29, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 15, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. This page has been viewed 2,023 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 24, 2023, by HistoricTownsOfAmerica.com - Guy Saladino of Long Beach, New York. 2, 3. submitted on November 15, 2009, by Roger W. Sinnott of Norwell, Massachusetts. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.