The Old Stone Mill, Newport, RI 1856. File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Susan W. Pieroth, (© 1997 Susan W. Pieroth) USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages are for the use of indivisual researchers, and may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for non-commercial purposes, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ____________________________________________________________ THE NEWPORT DIRECTORY, CONTAINING THE NAMES OF THE CITIZENS, A BUSINESS DIRECTORY, CITY RECORD, GOVERNMENT OF STATE, &C; WILLIAM H. BOYD, COMPILER AND PUBLISHER, 229 BROADWAY, NEW YORK. 1856-'57 ____________________________________ THE OLD STONE MILL The Stone Mill is situated near the centre of Touro Park, between Mill and Pelham Streets. It is an ancient ruin, and from its antiquity it has of late years e×cited much inquiry. The first mention of it occurs in the will of Governor B. Arnold, senior, July, 1778, in which he calls it "my stone built wind-mill." It is referred to in a deed of life-lease of Edward Pelham, son-in- law to Gov. A., to his son Thomas, Feb. 18, 1720, and the income of which, in that instrument, he gives to him; also in his will, May 21, 1741, he styles it "his wind-mill." Collections of the mortar used in building the mill have been made by Rev. Dr. Jackson from the mill, Arnold's tomb-vault, the Bull-house of 1640-1, built for a garrison, the Easton-house, the Atkinson-house, the Vernon-house, and the Easton-house, (now Southwick), built in 1642-3; and on comžaring these several specimens one with another, no one, without the labels, can tell which of them was taken from the mill; and hereby it is seen that they were all erected about nearly the same time. It was unquestionably built by Gov. Arnold for the ususal purposes of a corn mill, some time from 1655-60. Structures similar e×ist at this day in great numbers in the river Oporto, Portugal, and in other parts of Europe. It is a beautiful specimen of masonary, having eight arches, intended to prevent the flapping of the sailing arms in their circuit, and therefore philosophically arranged, and being in height 25 fee, and in diameter, e×ternally, 23 feet, and internally 18 feet 9 inches. This structure, with the adjacent lands, forming an entire square, has been purchased by the legacy of Mr. James Touro and the city, and has become the property of the city, and will therefore remain a permanent ornament of the city.