Brewster, Orleans, Eastham & Wellfleet, Cape Code, MA

The Stony Brook Grist Mill in Brewster on Cape Cod.

To the left, part of the herring run. To the right, a gull waiting for its chance at the herring!

The herring run at Brewster.

The herring run at Brewster.

The herring run at Brewster.

I doubt the gull in the earlier picture pays much attention to this sign!

The side of the Grist Mill showing the large water wheel.

The side of the Grist Mill showing the large water wheel.

The Lower Mill Pond feeds into Stony Brook and the Herring Run.

The Lower Mill Pond feeds into Stony Brook and the Herring Run.

The interior of the Grist Mill showing some of the exhibits.

About 1.7 miles (2.7 km) north-east of the Grist Mill, we find the Brewster Ladies Library. Fortunately, men are permitted to enter!

While it is a private institution, it operates as the Brewster public library, and since 1999, “Your Community Library” has been added to the name.

Twelve ladies established the library in January 1853 initially in a house at 1772 Main Street in Brewster, with just 200 books. Men were allowed to borrow books, but had to pay more than the ladies. This rule no longer applies, and borrowing is free to all residents.

When it became apparent that more space was needed, Captain Joseph Nickerson contributed $1,000 to start a fund for a new building. This was completed in 1868, and enlarged in 1877. Further enlargement took place in 1976 and 1997 which is what we now see, with over 50,000 books.

The Stony Brook Grist Mill in Brewster on Cape Cod.

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Brewster, Cape Cod, MA