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Old Stone Mill: then and now

1895 vs 2017 · Newport, RI

Old Stone Mill, 2017Old Stone Mill, 1895
NowThen
Then, 1895A black-and-white photo of the round stone tower on arches, behind an iron fence, with bare trees nearby.Photo: Unknown author · Public domain · Source · resized
Today, 2017The same round tower seen from below its arches, with a small building visible through the opening.Photo: Kacey Victoria · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source · resized

The story

The Old Stone Mill, also called the Newport Tower, stands in Touro Park. It is about 28 feet (8.5 m) tall and about 22 to 23 feet across.

For a long time people argued about who built it, and some guessed it was Viking. Wikipedia says carbon-14 testing indicates it is the remains of a 17th-century windmill.

A document from 1741 already calls it 'the old stone mill'. It is a good example of an old mystery with a well-tested answer.

Did you know? A document from 1741 already called the tower 'the old stone mill'.
Historians argue about this. Many people repeat the Viking story. Wikipedia says carbon-14 testing indicates a 17th-century windmill.

Fact or tall tale?

Sources

More: Look for historic photos at the Library of Congress

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Go there, answer the question that only someone standing at Old Stone Mill can answer, and add the stamp to your passport. Free, no sign-up.

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Next: The Breakers. Written from the cited sources, not yet walked on site unless noted.