Interested in the rich history of tide mills on Westport Island? Join us on Sunday, Aug. 27 at 4 p.m. at the Old Town Hall for a talk on the town’s rich industrial heritage of tide-powered grist and saw mills. The program is presented by the Friends of Westport Island History.

Tide-powered mills fostered the island’s early development and growth. Starting 250 years ago, "Jeremisquam Island’s" earliest permanent settlers needed grist mills to grind their grain crop for flour and feed and saw mills to make the lumber for their homes. How did these mills come to be built, and who built them?  

Once Westport was established as a town, nearly 200 years ago, a second generation of more advanced tide mills fostered an industry that supported ship building and the lumber export market throughout Maine, New England and beyond.  By the mid 1800s, six tide mills had been built in coves and tidal inlets on the island.

The tide mill era ended in the late 1800s with the advent of steam and gasoline-powered mills that could be built closer to sources of logs for milling. Westport’s last mill finally closed after the devastating fire of 1918 burned the last mill building. It’s exciting, though, to have the remains of dams and pilings to remind us of these very busy and prosperous times.

The town history committee’s Dennis Dunbar will be joined by Bud Warren and David Hoyle, both of Tide Mill Institute, to discuss the long history of tide mills, the mills on the Island and their operators, and the future of tidal power.

The old Town Hall is at 1217 Main Road (Route 144), Westport Island. The program is open to the public, free of charge. Refreshments will be served. For more information, please email FOWIH19@gmail.com