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MillStone by Haymarket

Historic Millstone by Haymarket is ignored by many that passerby

As you walk along the backside of the Boston Public Market, you may encounter a strange stone wheel and a cement path heading towards Faneuil Hall.

While it might look like an artistic display, it's actually a piece of Boston's history that is more than 300 years old. It's an original Millstone that helps colonial Bostonians grind up grain.

Mill Stone

Six Things I learned about the Mill Creek Millstone

  • On November 16, 1999, During the construction of the "Big Dig," two Millstones were found near the Dock Square Parking Garage. (Which is next to the Hard Rock Cafe)
  • According to one archeologist, the discovery of the millstones and colonial trash nearby is the "finest such artifacts ever found from Colonial Boston - the true treasure is encased in the creek bottom"
  • The Millstones each weighed 2,200 pounds and are believed to be dated from the 1700s.
  • In Colonial Boston, there was a large pond near the area near Faneuil Hall. The millstones were found in an area where a creek was created from the pond to the ocean.
  • The rise in tide would how the the grist mills were powered.
  • There use to be a sign next to the Millstone, but it's been removed for many years - leaving the history and story of the Millstone a mystery to those that walk by.

Colonial Boston Map

Shawmut- Peninsula
A map of Boston that shows the location of Millpond.

You can learn more about the Millstone on the Massachusetts Historical Commission page.

Source: Information was gathered from various sources including the Boston Globe which covered the story in 1999.

 

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There are many interesting things and places around Boston, MA that you should know about. Here are a few that caught my attention. From historical sites such as the USS Constitution Museum, the Freedom Trail, and the iconic Fenway Park, to modern attractions like the New England Aquarium, the Boston Public Market, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, there is something for everyone. Whether you are looking for a fun family trip or a romantic getaway, Boston has it all.

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