Historical Society celebrates history of the Old Mill

The Westminster Historical Society invites all members and their spouses and friends to a meeting at the Old Mill Restaurant, 69 State Road East, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 12, and to enjoy one of the Old Mill's famous desserts with coffee or other beverages.

Following dessert, a program on the history of the Old Mill will be held featuring photos and some family history by a member of the Foster family.

The Old Mill Restaurant was originally a Saw Mill, built in 1761 by Philip Bemis, Westminster's third settler. The sawmill eventually passed into the Raymond family and they operated several industries there for more than a hundred years, manufacturing organ pipes and wood shingles. In 1920, the Raymonds sold it to Miss. Keough who created and managed the Old Mill Tea House for 22 summers.

Ralph Foster purchased the tea house in 1945 and opened it as a small restaurant with a staff of three. Fire demolished the building in 1947. The Foster family began rebuilding it the same winter, making the new building the same architecture as the original saw mill. It became a large operation with nine dining rooms and with customers from all over the world. In 1959, it was considered Westminster's most important industry by many people. It remains in the hands of the Foster family today

For information, or to make reservations, call (978) 874-5569 (please leave your name and telephone number on the message machine). Cost is $10 per person (payment can be made at the Old Mill that evening.)