Remains of a former grist mill, Stratham, NH

During our last biological sampling day we came across these old grist mill wheels at the Winnicut Rd. bridge site in Stratham.  An old photo of the former mill was found online, as was a cool graphic on how a grist mill operated.  Interesting stuff!  Make a mental note of the various parts and pieces you see in the photos, then see below for details.

The former Winnicut Mill in Stratham, NH, in ~1937/8...

This mill functioned in the 1930's. In this picture the river is flowing to the left (to the north, that is), which means the perspective is from the northwest, looking southeast. Imagine the 4-way intersection of Union Rd. and Winnicutt Rd. in Stratham behind you if you were the photographer. The present day Winnicut River Farm  would be off the photo's right, and the Golf Club of New England off the left.

To see how grist mills operated, click here for a unique graphic that was created as part of a collaborative project between a 6th grade class in Amherst, MA, and a computer technology group from UMass Amherst.  Cool stuff!

Interested in historic mill use on the Winnicut River? From the historical Weeks Brick House and Gardens website:  The first dam, millpond, and sawmill on the Winnicut River were constructed by Philip Lewis & Isaac Cole about 1660, near what is now the intersection of the river and Rte. 33. Between 1670 and 1790, seven sawmills and gristmills were built on the upper Winnicut River. In the early 18th century, additional mills were constructed further up the Winnicut, about one mile south of the river's Rte. 33 intersection.