The Eastham Windmill, located in

Eastham, Massachusetts Eastham () is a New England town, town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 5,752 at the 2020 census. For geographic and demog ...

, is the oldest

windmill A windmill is a machine operated by the force of wind acting on vanes or sails to mill grain (gristmills), pump water, generate electricity, or drive other machinery. Windmills were used throughout the high medieval and early modern period ...

Cape Cod Cape Cod is a peninsula extending into the Atlantic Ocean from the southeastern corner of Massachusetts, in the northeastern United States. Its historic, maritime character and ample beaches attract heavy tourism during the summer months. The ...

. It was constructed by Eastham resident Thomas Paine in

Plymouth Plymouth ( ) is a port city status in the United Kingdom, city and unitary authority in Devon, South West England. It is located on Devon's south coast between the rivers River Plym, Plym and River Tamar, Tamar, about southwest of Exeter and ...

in 1680. It was first moved to nearby

Truro Truro (; ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and civil parish in Cornwall, England; it is the southernmost city in the United Kingdom, just under west-south-west of Charing Cross in London. It is Cornwall's county town, s ...

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 The Eastham Center Historic District is a historic district encompassing the main village center of Eastham, Massachusetts. This village center grew around the railroad station, which was built in 1870. The arrival of the railroad resulted i ...

, was added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

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 Labor Day is a Federal holidays in the United States, federal holiday in the United States celebrated on the first Monday of September to honor and recognize the Labor history of the United States, American labor movement and the works and con ...

. While repairs are necessary over time, a large contribution was made in 1996 by a local

Boy Scout A Scout, Boy Scout, Girl Scout or, in some countries, a Pathfinder is a participant in the Scout Movement, usually aged 10–18 years, who engage in learning scoutcraft and outdoor and other special interest activities. Some Scout organizatio ...

whose

Eagle Project The Eagle Project () was a joint operation during World War II between the Office of Strategic Services of the United States and the Korean Liberation Army of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea. It is also called Project Eagle ...

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 Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scouting, Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a gro ...

References

External links

Windmill Information at the Eastham Historical Society siteOfficial site of Eastham Windmill Weekend
{{Windmills in the United States 1680 establishments in Plymouth Colony Agricultural buildings and structures on the National Register of Historic Places Eastham, 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 Buildings and structures completed in 1680 Windmills completed in the 17th century Windmills in Massachusetts Windmills on the National Register of Historic Places