Roslyn Grist Mill Restoration Unearths Century Old Messages

Construction workers restoring the Roslyn Grist Mill were surprised last month to discover a weathered old milk bottle within the concrete floor slab below the first-floor staircase. Even more surprising were the contents of the bottle: a pair of 1917 messages written by a Roslyn mason and carpenter and four vintage coins. Research has provided insight into this historic “messages in a bottle” left by construction workers who were restoring the building 103 years ago.

One message was written in elegant Italian script by Roslyn mason Romolo Caparrelli. Pam Story of South Carolina provided this background on her grandfather: “My grandfather Romolo Caparrelli was born in Pico, Italy and later became a resident of Roslyn. He worked on a restoration of the grist mill in 1916 when it was intended to be used as a museum. He applied a unique style of stucco to the exterior and concrete for the floors and roof. He also placed his initials in the stucco by the front entrance. I had been told by my father that he put a glass jar in the building’s wall with various contents. I am so glad that it was found and in relatively good condition.”

Caparrelli’s letter was translated by Dr. Andrea Fedi, Associate Professor of Italian and Cultural Studies at Stony Brook University. Caparrelli wished to be remembered for his pioneering concrete work on the Roslyn Grist Mill:

Attention, this is a gift that I am giving you. Romolo Caparrelli invented the planking-style concrete roof and walls installed in 1916 and ‘17. So remember us, first bricklayer Romolo Caparrelli.

The second message was written by 81-year old Stephen Speedling who had a carpentry shop across the “mill dam” from the Roslyn Grist Mill and a home nearby on Northern Boulevard. Although time has left much of message unreadable, Speedling wrote that the mill was being rebuilt for Harold Godwin (grandson of William Cullen Bryant) and acknowledged his fellow workers. He also left four coins in the bottle; 1863 Civil War token, 1863 Haitian 20 centimes, 1881 Indian Head penny and a 1905 Indian Head penny. The bottle was a half pint cream bottle from the now defunct Alex. Campbell Milk Company. Based at 803 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, the company was founded around 1890 and had wide distribution on Long Island.

The Roslyn Grist Mill is a rare surviving Dutch framed watermill built between 1715 and 1741. The mill acted as Roslyn’s economic foundation for centuries and was important enough to receive a visit to the grist mill’s owner from President George Washington in 1790f. The mill was converted into a tea house and museum in 1920. The Roslyn Mill Tea House would remain open for 54 years before closing and transferring ownership to Nassau County for a future restoration. The completed building will be transformed into an educational center and serve as an attraction to the residents and visitors to the historic Village of Roslyn.

After over 40 years of planning and four years of fundraising, restoration began in 2018, highlighted by the lifting of the building above street level on January 23, 2020 in preparation for a new foundation. As a result of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, work was halted in March 2020. Construction resumed in August 2020 and fundraising efforts continue.

From 2015 to 2020, over $3.1 million was raised for restoration from New York State, Nassau County, Gerry Charitable Trust, Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation and members and sponsors of the Roslyn Landmark Society. A new 2020 Roslyn Grist Mill Match Challenge has recently been announced with a target goal of raising at least an additional $100,000 this year. All new Roslyn Landmark Society membership fees, renewals, and contributions will be allocated to the project with a 100% match from the Gerry Charitable Trust and Howard and Roz Kroplick. For more information, visit the new Roslynlandmarks.org website.

Submitted by the Roslyn Landmark Society