Subject of Square: The Deacon Tuck Leavitt Grist Mill

Quilter’s Name: Kim Grondin

Background on subject: One of the oldest buildings in Hampton, the Grist Mill was built in 1686 and burned and was rebuilt by Moses Leavitt in 1817. Although none of the original machinery remains, there are original logs under the spillway and pins that mounted the tub wheel beneath the mill building. Today the building is in good condition. There was a second fire on August 24th, 1961, inside the mill building that a local neighbor and engineer, William Barkley believed protected and helped the restoration of the building.

Why you chose this subject: I chose the Grist Mill because I live nearby and love this building and the habitat it creates. It consists of the Mill Pond, the dam, spillway, and the building. Stories confirm that the Mill was a gathering place for neighbors to meet and grind their corn, townspeople to discuss business, and of course, pass along gossip too! The Mill Dam also ensures better flood control for snow and storm runoff and allows greater protection for the town's aquifer. The wildlife on the pond is a beautiful and diverse ecosystem and Mill Pond is the last fresh water before spilling into the marsh’s brackish water.

Thoughts on your representation/design/color choices/etc.: I picked natural fabrics to represent the traditional shingled mill, and I used grey for the rock walls and grindstone steps and more colorful tones for the vegetation around the mill.

What you hope this quilt will mean for the people who see it: I hope that when you see all the quilt squares that it sparks you to take a field trip to visit all these special parts of our town’s history to appreciate how our community has grown.