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Looking to the Wind: The 1787 Jamestown Windmill

Just across the bridge from Newport in Jamestown, Rhode Island, stands a relic that looks like it belongs in a fairy tale—or perhaps a chapter of Don Quixote.

Standing three stories tall in a field of tall grass, the Jamestown Windmill has been powered by the strong breezes of Narragansett Bay since 1787. While it may look primitive to modern eyes, this structure is a masterpiece of colonial engineering and a testament to the early preservation movement in America.

Anatomy of a “Smock Mill”

To the casual observer, it is just a windmill. To an engineer, it is a Smock Mill.Common in New England and Long Island during the 18th century, this design gets its name because the sloping, shingled sides resemble the smocks once worn by farmers.

• The Shape: The mill is octagonal (eight-sided).
• The Construction: The frame is built of hand-hewn chestnut timbers, shingled on the exterior to protect against the salty air.
• The Bonnet: Unlike earlier “post mills” where the entire building had to be rotated to face the wind, a smock mill has a fixed body. Only the roof, or “bonnet,” rotates.

How it Works: A massive chain hangs from the bonnet down to the ground. By pulling this chain, the miller could rotate the entire roof to align the sails with the wind. It was heavy work—it took 16 pulls of the chain just to turn the bonnet 90 degrees.

Grinding History (1787–1896)

The mill you see today was built in 1787, shortly after the American Revolution. The land previously belonged to Colonel Joseph Wanton Jr., a British Loyalist who fled the area in 1779. The state confiscated his property, and the town of Jamestown used the land to build a community mill.

The Johnnycake Connection: For 109 years, this mill was the heartbeat of the island’s agriculture. Its primary job was grinding Rhode Island White Flint Corn into meal.

• This specific type of hard, white corn is the essential ingredient for Johnnycakes, a cornmeal flatbread that is a staple of Rhode Island cuisine.

The mill operated until 1896, when it finally succumbed to technology. It simply couldn’t compete with modern steel rolling mills and the improved transportation that brought cheap grain in from the Midwest.

A Victory for Preservation

When the mill closed in 1896, it could have easily rotted away. Instead, it became an early success story for historic preservation.

In 1904—decades before “historic preservation” was a mainstream concept—local residents formed the Jamestown Windmill Society. They raised $780 to buy the derelict structure and repair it. In 1912, they deeded it to the Jamestown Historical Society, which has maintained it for over a century.

Because it was saved so quickly after closing, the internal machinery remains remarkably intact.

• The Milling Floor: Where the stones ground the corn.
• The Bin Floor: Where grain was stored.
• The Dust Floor: The top level housing the massive gears and windshaft.

If You Visit

The Jamestown Windmill is located on Conanicut Island, easily accessible via the Pell Bridge from Newport.

• Location: 378 North Road, Jamestown, RI 02835.
• Access: The grounds are open to the public year-round. The interior is generally open for tours on weekends during the summer months (mid-June through mid-October).
• Windmill Day: Every two years, the Historical Society hosts “Windmill Day.” On these special occasions, the canvas sails are hoisted onto the 50-foot vanes, the brakes are released, and the massive stones turn once again under the power of the wind.

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For More Information

Jamestown Historical Society (www.jamestownhistoricalsociety.org)