On July 9, 2021, the Roslyn Landmark Society presented a three-minute summary on the progress of the the Roslyn Grist Mill Project to the Long Island Region Economic Development Council (REDC) as part of their Project Pitch Meeting. Below is the complete presentation.

Good afternoon, I’m Howard Kroplick, president of the Board of the Roslyn Landmark Society and former Town Historian of North Hempstead. Thank you for the opportunity to present an update on the restoration of Roslyn Grist Mill, which we believe is the most significant ongoing historic preservation project on Long Island and maybe New York State.

The Roslyn Grist Mill is located in the heart of the historic Village of Roslyn on its main commercial street. It is a rare surviving Dutch-framed watermill built around 1715-1741.It operated as a working water mill for over 150 years and was the economic center of the village.

In April 1790, the owner of the grist mill was visited by President George Washington at his Roslyn residence adjoining the grist mill. Washington referred to the grist mill in his diary.

From 1920 to 1974, the building served as a tea house and was a major tourist attraction for the village. The building was placed on the National Historic Register of Historic Places in 1986 and placed on Preservation Long Island’s Endangered Places List in 2015.

Ownership of the building was transferred to Nassau County in 1976 with the intention to restore it as a museum. After almost 40 years of planning, delays and lack of funding, the mill stood vacant and deteriorated. In 2015, the Roslyn Landmark Society took the challenge to manage the restoration project with the agreement of Nassau County and the Village of Roslyn.

From 2015 to 2020, over $3.1 million was raised to restore this historic building. New York State REDC awarded the project three $500,000 grants in 2015, 2018 and 2019. The total amount of $1.5 million was matched by funding from private foundations and trusts, Nassau County and members and sponsors of the Roslyn Landmark Society.

The long-awaited restoration began in November 2018. The completed work included: interior stabilization of the building, removal of hazardous material, temporary roof repair, dismantling and restoration of the 1700s timber frame and removal of the husk frame.

The most significant event during this time was the lifting of the structure four feet above street level in January 2020 to allow for a new foundation, just prior to a six-month construction halt due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The lifting made the news with coverage in all Long Island newspapers as well as television coverage on CBS-2, Fox-5 and News12.

A press release on the lifting was also issued from New York State office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation.:

•Commissioner Erik Kulleseid stated: "Investing in the revitalization of the Roslyn Grist Mill capitalizes on Roslyn's history and culture while enhancing the surrounding neighborhood. I'm grateful Governor Cuomo is helping to provide the tools to revitalize this one-of-a-kind landmark on Long Island.“.

•President Kevin Law added: "I am confident that Roslyn's Grist Mill will soon become an educational beacon on Long Island, teaching locals and visitors alike about our region's unique story.”

Six months after the lifting, restoration resumed with the removal of the concrete roof and floor and levelling the east and west sides of the structure. In October 2020, the project made the news again when 103-year-old “messages in a bottle” were discovered in a concrete slab. CBS-TV anchorwoman Kristine Johnson commented that “the messages credited the Roslyn community at the time for embracing history and they still are today.”

I am very pleased to inform you with an additional $350,000 in cash raised this year from a community match challenge and private foundations, the next phase of the construction will begin later this month- the construction of a new foundation.

With the completion of the foundation, the restored and new timbers will be re-erected and the entire structure will be lowered to street level.

Additional funding for 2022 and 2023 will be needed to complete the restoration including:

•Sidewalks and ramps to provide ADA access to site

•Restore and reinstall husk frame

•Move the adjacent concrete basin and re-direct water flow from Silver Lake

•New bulkhead to protect the structure, site fill/landscaping

•Replication of the exterior siding, weatherboard, doors and windows

•Interior finishes, electrical systems, lights and power

•A new water wheel.

The completed restored Roslyn Grist Mill will serve as an educational center and will be an attraction to the residents and tourists to Long Island. The building will provide historical, early industrial and educational opportunities as well as advance economic investment and growth in the area.

We would like to thank the Long Island REDC, Denise Zani and Traci Christian of New York State Parks for their wonderful support and guidance.