"Historical buildings, Windmill, Farmers Market and Flea Market all in one spot. Great to see the Windmill and Flea Market. We enjoyed checking put the different treasures for sale
A good spot to check out if you want to spend a day searching the local shops in the Cape for antique and vintage items."

Cathy Kramer

"Brewster’s Windmill, also known as, Old Higgin’s Farm Windmill, was originally located at Route 6A and Ellis Landing Road, in Brewster. The windmill was moved 100 yards toward Cape Cod Bay and away from the road because the sound of the sails scared horses as they passed. About 1890, it was moved to Ellis Landing Road onto the Roland Crosly Nickerson Estate. Here it functioned as a clubhouse at the golf course. Mrs. Samuel Nickerson gave the mill to the Brewster’s Historical Society. In December 1974, the windmill was transported down Route 6A on a flatbed trailer to its present site, 6 miles from its original location.

Brewster’s Windmill is now found on 1.35 acres, donated to the Brewster Historical Society by Mr. And Mrs. Lewis McGowan, owners of the adjacent Drummer Boy Museum on Route 6A. The Windmill, built in 1795, was restored in July, 1976, with a matching grant from the Massachusetts Bicentennial Commission.

Brewster’s Windmill has an advantageous location for windmill enthusiasts because it sits in an open field and is visible from the road. The Historical Society certainly met the requests of Mrs. Nickerson when she gave them the windmill. She asked that the windmill be restored, preserved and open to the public. It has been authentically restored, meticulously preserved, well maintained and easily accessible to the public. The octagonal, 20-foot diameter base supports a revolving cap that was constructed with curved timbers similar to a hull of a ship. Pulling the tail pole rotates the revolving cap. The tail pole is attached to a wagon wheel on the ground. It is pulled by a horse, ox or human so that the masts face into the wind. The entire mill stands 30 feet tall.

The interior of Brewster’s Windmill is just as fascinating as the impressive exterior. This windmill’s equipment has also been preserved. The interior consists of three floors. The top level houses the brake wheel and allows access to the curved timbers in the cap so that they can be greased periodically to allow the rotation movement of the cap. The middle floor houses the original five-foot diameter millstones. The ground floor has a bin that holds the ground meal. Here is also found the frame supports for the three tons of millstones.

A unique character of this mill is the presence of a corn cob cracker on the first floor which is used to make animal feed and fertilizer. Other interesting attributes that are intrinsically characteristic of the Brewster Windmill are the rare ship carvings on the feed bin. These carvings, called scrimshaw, were often found on ships created by sailors. There are many characteristics of the Brewster Windmill that indicate that a ship builder constructed it. The windshaft is designed like one that holds a mast. The curved timbers in the cap and the pegged floor are also indications that the builder of this mill was a seaman.

A visit to the Brewster Windmill will be most rewarding. Brewster’s Windmill, also known as, Old Higgin’s Farm Windmill was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 10, 1975."

Brenda Krekeler

"We finally had a chance to a windmill, bkacksmith... simple nice history is pretty cool"

Kevin Russell