Friday (June 21, 2013) – Right up the street from my vacation spot in West Yarmouth on Route 28 is the Baxter Grist Mill. I drive by it numerous times when I am down the Cape for my vacation every year. Finally, this year, when I was heading out to explore, I stopped to check the area out.
The mill stands on the edge of a small pond that is home to a family of swans as well as a few snapping turtles (as signs in the area warn). An online search afterwards led me to the Historical Society of Old Yarmouth (http://www.hsoy.org/historic/baxtermill.htm) which provided some of the history of the mill. Baxter Grist Mill was built in the early 1700s and operated until around 1900 – an impressive run, if I do say so myself.
As the gate in the fence that surrounds the mill was not locked when I arrived, I was able to get close to the mill and water for some interesting shots. The mama, daddy and baby swans also came over for a quick hello before heading back to their nest in the tall grass on the other side of the pond.
The sandy clearing filled with scrub pine and ant hills was reminiscent of the summers of my youth in the 70s down in Maushop Village in New Seabury – of nights watching the old men play bocce ball after walking up to the village store by the Popponesset Inn for an after-dinner ice cream.
But enough of my waxing nostalgic. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the afternoon. Enjoy!
See What I Shot 