Windmills were once an integral part of life in Chatham.  There were about eleven wind-powered grist mills located in the town from the early 1700s through the 1800s, with six to nine in operation during any one time period.

There were also dozens of smaller windmills that pumped sea water to the salt works located along the town’s shores.

The Chatham Windmill, also known as the Col. Benjamin Godfrey Mill, was one of the last of the town’s grist mills to be built. Today only two of these historic mills exist in Chatham and only the Godfrey Mill is open to the public.

Built in 1796 by Colonel Benjamin Godfrey, the Chatham Windmill operated continuously for 100 years. Chatham Windmill had many owners and events during its existence, which are detailed in the subsequent list.

It stands 30 feet and is fully operational, with the top two floors used for grinding corn and wheat. The first floor has a corncob grinder.

 

To learn more, please click here.

 

Below are some highlights of the history of the Godfrey Mill:

 

1797  –  Built by Colonel Benjamin Godfrey on Mill Hill off Atwood

Street (now Stage Harbor Road)

1819  –  Christopher “Uncle Tap” Taylor inherited the mill

1869  –  Sold to Oliver Eldridge

1884  –  Sold to Zenas Nickerson for $400, later owned by his son,

George Nickerson II

1898  –  Ceased commercial operation

1907  –  Northwest gale destroyed the arms and outer mill shaft

1908  –  Sold to Nelson Floyd for $575

1913  –  Sold to Charles Hardy who restored the mill but operated

it for exhibition only

1924  –  An April gale wrecked the trundle top and one arm

1927  –  Lightning strike caused considerable damage

1932  –  A 60-mph gale blew down the mill’s large fan

1939  –  Sold to Stuart Crocker

1954  –  Donated to the town of Chatham by Mr. and Mrs. Crocker

with the condition that the mill be moved off the Crocker

property

1955  –  Moved to present location on Rink Hill in Chase Park, off

Shattuck Place

1956  –  Reopened to the public after being renovated

1978  –  Placed on the National Register of Historic Places

1985  –  Operated seasonally for summer visitors

1989  –  Rehabilitated by the town of Chatham

1990s –  Periodically operated for historical presentations

2012  –  Historic restoration completed for Chatham’s

300th Anniversary