Old Town Mill, est. 1650

Old Town Mill, est. 1650

Built by John Winthrop Jr. four years after he founded New London in 1646, the Old Town Mill is the earliest industrial site in Connecticut. The mill was active until 1781 and ground all types of grain. During the American Revolutionary War in 1781, the mill was burned during the British raid on New London resulting in food shortages in the area. In 1800, the mill was rebuilt and became a tourist attraction while still in operation. It stopped operation in 1913 and was a tourist attraction until 1943 when the first span of what is now known as the Gold Star Memorial bridge was built over it. This ruined the scenic view and isolated the site. Today, Old Town serves as a reminder of the great history of New London.

Jacob Brill-Weil