At a glance
#1 of 11 Tourist attractions in Brewster #1 of 4 Museums in BrewsterLocalGuideWorld score: 4.79
Rating breakdown
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5 ★82%
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4 ★15%
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3 ★1%
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2 ★0%
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1 ★1%
Quick facts
- What is the rating of Stony Brook Grist Mill?
- Stony Brook Grist Mill is rated 4.8 out of 5 based on 511 reviews.
- How does Stony Brook Grist Mill rank in Brewster?
- Stony Brook Grist Mill is #1 of 11 Tourist attractions in Brewster by LocalGuideWorld score (rating weighted by number of reviews).
- Where is Stony Brook Grist Mill located?
- Herring Run Site, 830 Stony Brook Rd, Brewster, MA 02631 — 4.0 km from the center of Brewster.
- How can I contact Stony Brook Grist Mill?
- Phone: (508) 896-1734 · Website: brewster-ma.gov
I've never visited when the museum is open, but I read that you could buy corn that is ground on site during the summer months. Sounds pretty cool.
I prefer the off-season tranquility of this spot and imagining what life might have been like before cell phones and traffic jams. There are a few parking spots just across the street, which probably fill up fast in season.
I didn't realize until recently that the brook travels all the way to the Atlantic. It makes sense since the Alewife run through in the spring, which is a neat thing for kids to witness.
The property does not welcome dogs, so your four-legged friends have to sit this one out.
I prefer the off-season tranquility of this spot and imagining what life might have been like before cell phones and traffic jams. There are a few parking spots just across the street, which probably fill up fast in season.
I didn't realize until recently that the brook travels all the way to the Atlantic. It makes sense since the Alewife run through in the spring, which is a neat thing for kids to witness.
The property does not welcome dogs, so your four-legged friends have to sit this one out.
The milk was open and we enjoyed the demonstration as well as the historical information and antiques. Very knowledgeable staff that were great with the kids as well. We also enjoyed walking along the stream and there was plenty of wildlife to view.
We had read about herring runs but never made it to one until this year. Went over April vacation with grandkids and we all enjoyed it very much. It’s quite a fascinating combination of nature and people working together. I’d recommend checking the website in advance to see if the herring are running. They usually run in April if it’s above 50 degrees. I believe they run back in June, we’re going to keep an eye on that. If you go make sure you go to both sides of the property across the street from each other. On side has a bridge, a picnic area on the hill, several “ladders” for the herring to jump on their way to the pond, which is across the street. Be very careful crossing as this is a tricky road situation. The mill, brook & pond are located at the bottom of a little valley in the road and it curves at the same time. Once you safely cross the street, follow the brook up hill, to the last “ladder” and watch the herring as they try to make the last leap into the pond to later spawn this spring. It’s fascinating to watch some make it and some don’t. Some that make it appear to get carried back down if they don’t swim away from the rushing brook fast enough. Kids can walk through a couple of paths up on a hill next to the pond and hang out on some large boulders adjacent to the pond.
The only thing we couldn’t do was go inside the mill to see how the water wheel worked. It wasn’t open but we gave the kids our own little lesson on how it works and hope to get back someday when it’s open. This is truly just one more reason when the Cape is so special. There is so much more to the cape than just the beach and this is just
one example.
The only thing we couldn’t do was go inside the mill to see how the water wheel worked. It wasn’t open but we gave the kids our own little lesson on how it works and hope to get back someday when it’s open. This is truly just one more reason when the Cape is so special. There is so much more to the cape than just the beach and this is just
one example.
The mill was unexpectedly open today, although not running (only on Saturdays). It was really cool to see all the old tech and purchase a bag of actual stone ground corn meal. The trails along the herring run were beautiful. The herring "run" in May, but it's neat to see off season as well.
The mill was closed but this is a hidden gem to experience some of nature's reproduction processes. The mill is on one side of the street and herring are on the other. Only the strongest survive, the herring climb a series of small waterfalls to get to the pond where the lay their eggs. It a great stop for families and naturalists. Note, the seagulls are also there to get an easy meal.
Beautiful old grist mill with trails along the stream and up to the mill pond. No dogs allowed and trails are on both sides of the streets. Small parking area. I saw lots of egrets on one end, apparently is really something to see the herring swim up the fish ladder in the spring. The mill wasn't open but grounds always are.
I finally got to visit the Stony Brook Gristmill and Museum when it was open! (I've also been here in late spring when the herring were running.) It was a great experience to see the waterwheel turning and to see corn being ground into corn meal. The guides were friendly and informative and talked about the history of the mill and the milling process while they were grinding corn and packaging it for sale to visitors. I thought the millstones were running at a low speed, but the guides explained the decide how fast to run the mill based on how much corn meal they need to grind. They increased the speed of the millstones when several people stopped in to buy the larger bags of corn meal, so it was interesting to see them open a gate and let more water through so that the waterwheel and millstones would turn faster.
On the second floor (accessible by walking outside to the rear of the mill building) there were more displays and a large loom set up where a woman was demonstrating weaving. She had a very interactive demonstration where she had children who were visiting the mill sit beside her and help her weave cloth.
Even though the herring weren't running in late summer, it was relaxing to walk along the herring run and to the mill pond while listening to the flowing water.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Stony Brook Gristmill and Museum.
On the second floor (accessible by walking outside to the rear of the mill building) there were more displays and a large loom set up where a woman was demonstrating weaving. She had a very interactive demonstration where she had children who were visiting the mill sit beside her and help her weave cloth.
Even though the herring weren't running in late summer, it was relaxing to walk along the herring run and to the mill pond while listening to the flowing water.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Stony Brook Gristmill and Museum.
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