Dan's Papers - October 13, 2006 - Wind Won't Cooperate

Hugh King, East Hampton's Town Crier and Village Historian, was running around the Hook Mill last Saturday, trying in vain to get the canvas-covered sails to spin. But despite his good intentions, on this 200th anniversary of the mill, the wind was simply blowing in the wrong direction.

"As luck would have it, we need a strong, southwest wind, and it's blowing in the exact opposite direction, northeast," sighed King. "It would have been great to see this old mill spin again on its bicentennial year, for Historic Windmill Day. But you can't call up on the cell phone, or text message, or hit enter on the computer, to get the windmill to turn - we need Mother Nature."

The windmill blades were covered in a white canvas, which was shredding from the wind and, throughout the day, people were touring it in honor of its big anniversary. King explained that this mill was built in 1806 by Nathaniel Dominy V of East Hampton, who used lumber brought over from Gardiner's Island. Until 1908, the mill operated on this Village Green, and then went unused for about 30 years, until it was eventually restored. King explained that this was originally one of three working windmills, and that the Pantigo Mill and the Gardiner Mill were both built in 1804. They originally sat on either side of a green at the south end of the village. While the Gardiner Mill still stands in its original place, the Pantigo Mill was first moved to Pantigo Road, and later moved to a private house on James Lane by its owner, Gustav Beuk, a former owner of Home Sweet Home.

"On Historic Windmill Day, we are celebrating all three mills," said King, who led tours of the other two mills as well last Saturday.

Sharing in the celebration of Hook Mill were two members of the Dominy family, who came out to share their stories of this landmark. Grace Dominy Renkins, 90, who spent her life in East Hampton, sat inside the mill, which she remembers well from her years growing up in this village.

"I used to come here as a young girl, and I watched them make corn and grain in this mill," she said. "The gears are very precise - the way they turn and grind up the corn. It's a marvel to watch it work." Grace Dominy Renkins graduated from East Hampton High School in 1933, and she stayed and raised a family in her hometown. Also joining her was Harold Dominy, 81, who has spent many years giving tours of the Hook Mill. He knows how the entire technical operation works, and he often leads tours for school groups and organizations. Dominy also makes precision clocks in his spare time, and over the years he has perfected this craft.

Last Saturday, he showed one group how the corn goes in one side of the wheel and comes out another spot, once it is ground into a fine powder. "This mill was built with fine precision instruments - it is extremely well made, and it has survived numerous hurricanes and never got ruined," he said. "Its 200-year survival is a testament to its strength and great craftsmanship, from an era where great pride was taken in its building. We can only hope it survives another 200 years for future generations to enjoy." He said, "Windmills have become the historic symbols of East Hampton, as well as Southampton Town."

"Historic Windmill Day" has been happening each year on Columbus Day, but next year, King said he plans to move it to September, when the winds are more apt to be blowing from the southwest. "We'll be moving our schedule to accommodate Mother Nature," he said.