The first mills in Brooklyn: The story of the

Vanderveer family windmill in Flatbush

The first mill in Brooklyn was constructed on Long Island, in Flatbush. The

history of its construction is quite fascinating. The mill was made of wood,

namely oaks that grew here. The foundation and basement were built of

stone. Overall, it was a tall, four-story building. It's interesting to note that,

in those days, you could see the ocean from it. Of course, such a mill was

equipped with massive sails. As you know, their length was more than 26

feet, or about 8 meters. Local farmers came here to grind their grain. Find

out more information about the history of the first mill in Brooklyn at

brooklyn-name.com

Construction of Vanderveer’s Mill

The mill was built by the Vanderveer family, from which it got its name. Its
construction was finished in 1805. The structure was erected at the
intersection of Clarendon Road and Rogers Avenue.

It was one of the most durable structures the city could boast at the time.
The foundation of the building spanned more than three feet in width. It was
also buried deep in the ground. The structure atop, on which the containers
were built, was constructed of wood and was made in the style of old
Knickerbocker. The wood beams were weighty and enormous.

Aside from local farmers, grain was ground here by the black residents of
Flatbush, who were enslaved by those same farmers. Thus, the mill played
an important role in the lives of local African Americans, saving them from
starving to death. They mixed flour with fat and made simple loaves of
bread.

During the times of slavery, when white people lynched African Americans,
they fled their homes and sought refuge in Vanderveer's Mill. Frequently,
they had to run with only what they were wearing. It is known of a case in
which progressive Flatbush residents, upon learning that black people were
hiding in the mill, gathered provisions and brought them there. However,
the local watchman, believing that the citizens of the city had come to deal
with the refugees, did not open the gate, barricaded them, and refused to
let anybody in. Only after long negotiations did the gentlemen from the city
persuade him to open the gate and take food.

Twenty years without windmills

There were also some unpleasant moments throughout the mill's history.
Its sails were blown away by storms twice in its history. For two decades, it
served as a storehouse for hay or corn stalks. Later, the place only hosted
white owls, who had always resided there.

On March 4, 1879, another unfortunate event occurred in the history of

Vanderveer's Mill. On this day, the mill caught fire, resulting in large-scale
destruction. It was noticed only at seven o'clock in the evening.
Eyewitnesses saw flames bursting out of windows in the lower part of the
building. Immediately, they reported the fire. They even made attempts to
put out the flames on their own, but they were unsuccessful. The fact is that
there was not a single drop of water within a 500-meter radius. Thus, the
mill was left to its fate. The fire spread slowly but steadily through the old
solid structure, eventually enveloping it completely. The residents were
concerned about what had happened. A few hours after the fire broke out,
a large crowd gathered around the building. They formed a live circle
around the burning mill. Many people stood there all night.

The fire crew eventually got to the scene, although it took a very long time.
Furthermore, when firefighters arrived, they discovered that there was no
water, so their efforts were twice in vain.

Consequences of the large fire

Vanderveer's Mill burned to the ground. The fire was so strong that

witnesses stated the flames could be seen from Manhattan. Despite the

fact that the building's shingle caught fire and fell off almost immediately,

the oak base held on for quite some time. The fire raged around it all night,

but it didn't give in to the flames until the morning. Yet even the oak tree

couldn't withstand the hellish temperatures. As a result, the structure that

had served people for over 70 years collapsed. It is believed that the arson

was carried out by thieves or beggars.

In its final years, the building was not used as a windmill. The mill was

rented to a man named Kreimar, who used it to store his oats. Mr. Kreimar,

who came there every morning, discovered traces of nighttime occupants

such as thieves and vagabonds. They slept in the hay, nestling themselves

in it like a feather bed to keep themselves warm. Perhaps some of them,

willingly or accidentally, started the fire. The belief that they were thieves

was reinforced by the number of robberies in and around the city over the

previous month.

However, there was another theory about the arson. It was allegedly

caused by thieves who wanted to annoy either Mr. Kreimar or Mr.

Vanderveer. Although, at least some proof of this version was never

discovered. Flatbush police attempted to find out who set the fire but were

unsuccessful.

All of Mr. Kreimar's supplies, specifically hay and animal feed, were

destroyed. His losses amounted to approximately $150. Mr. Vanderveer's

losses as a result of the mill's destruction were estimated to be around

$900. It is known that it was insured for $500.

Even at the time, Vanderveer's Mill, located on the farm's hill at the

southern end of the village, was regarded as one of the most remarkable
ancient monuments of the city of Flatbush. Later, John Vanderveer

established a park in the city, but that's a completely different story.