The Old Mill - Martha's Vineyard Garden Club 'Summer Home' since 1942
History of the property and the Garden Club's Old Mill:
History of the property and the Garden Club's Old Mill:
- The Garden Club's Old Mill sits on property that held two previous grist mills and an earlier textile mill. The first grist mill on the property dates back to the mid-1600’s.
- In 1808, David Look purchased the last grist mill, installed carding machines and looms, and began to produce cloth.
- In 1845, Thomas Bradley purchased the property, built a new textile mill (the Garden Club's Old Mill) and focused on producing satinet, a dense woolen fabric used by seamen because of its water-shedding properties. The Old Mill prospered along with the whaling industry.
- In 1859, Thomas Bradley sold the property to Henry Cleveland, who continued to produce satinet.
- The demise of the whaling industry precipitated the decline of the Old Mill. The last known advertisement for satinet appeared in 1873.
- In 1874, ownership of our Old Mill passed to Thomas Campbell, Henry Cleveland’s son-in-law.
- In 1879, Thomas Campbell’s widow sold the English-made machinery for junk and the large mill wheel went to a local blacksmith.
- Between 1897 and 1937, the Old Mill was used intermittently as a tea room, art gallery, and auction house. It fell into disrepair.
- In 1937, when the dilapidated Old Mill was about to be torn down, Mrs. T. M. Randolph Meikelham, the first Garden Club president, objected strongly. She and two other Club members rented the Old Mill to save it from destruction
- In 1942, the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club purchased the property and for the past seventy years, the Garden Club has worked hard to preserve the Old Mill.