The Eastham Windmill, located in Eastham, Massachusetts, is the oldest windmill on Cape Cod. It was constructed by Eastham resident Thomas Paine in Plymouth in 1680. It was first moved to nearby Truro in 1770, then finally to Eastham in 1793. In 1808 the windmill was moved to its present location, near the Eastham Town Hall and the Eastham Public Library. Eastham Windmill, as part of the Eastham Center Historic District, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1999.
A local festival, Eastham Windmill Weekend, has been held on a yearly basis in Eastham since 1977, and takes place the first weekend after Labor Day.
While repairs are necessary over time, a large contribution was made in 1996 by a local Boy Scout whose Eagle Project included both raising the funds and providing the labor to replace several sections of the fencing around this historic landmark. All of the funding was provided by businesses located within Eastham. The Eastham Windmill has been a long-standing icon to the local Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts.
References
External links
Windmill Information at the Eastham Historical Society site
Official site of Eastham Windmill Weekend
1680 establishments in Plymouth Colony
Agricultural buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places Eastham, Massachusetts Grinding mills in Massachusetts Grinding mills on the National Register of Historic Places in Massachusetts Historic district contributing properties in Massachusetts Mill museums in Massachusetts Museums in Barnstable County, Massachusetts National Register of Historic Places in Barnstable County, Massachusetts Octagonal buildings in the United States Smock mills in the United States Windmills completed in 1680 Windmills in Massachusetts Windmills on the National Register of Historic Places