When you mention windmill to a Rhode Islander, very often the historic structure in Jamestown comes to mind. But there is a lesser-known windmill hiding in an entirely different park. Paradise Valley Park is home to Boyd’s Wind Grist Mill and it is truly something special.
Located in Middletown, Paradise Valley Park is a scenic little treasure with walking trails and a most unusual windmill. Boyd’s Wind Grist Mill was originally located in Portsmouth for 185 years where it was built in 1810.
The windmill was donated to the Middletown Historical Society in 1990 and the mill was relocated to Paradise Valley Park. The mill is the only eight-vane smock mill ever built and operated in New England. It is also one of the few surviving windmills of this type in the nation.
In its working days of the mid-1800s, the mill was used to grind feed for livestock. Most of the farms on Aquidneck Island had their grain passed through the mill at one time or another.
The windmill has now found a permanent home in this Middletown park and is open for tours on select days throughout the year. However, you can check out the outside of the mill and the rest of the park any day you wish and the covered gazebo makes a great spot for a picnic.
You'll also find a small stream running through the park, its gurgling waters sending up a cheerful song as you stand nearby. This park is a unique blend of history and nature and it's right at your fingertips.
Find the park at 43 Prospect Ave., Middletown, Rhode Island 02842. You can learn more about the historic windmill at the park on the Middletown Historical Society website.
Have you ever visited Paradise Valley Park? If you love the outdoors but crave a bigger area to explore, check out these 12 incredible wildlife refuges where there are miles and miles of trails.
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