Red Mills Pub

"The Red Mill, a grist mill constructed with massive timbers and covered with cedar slabs built in 1756, stood at the intersection of the Lake Mahopac and Kirk lake streams for more than a century." From the upper lake to the Red Mills was a drop of 126'. The water flowing from the outlets of the lake Mahopac and Kirk Lake, ran down to the mill pond, with the water whell and falls, furnishing great power for the grist mill. the area was originally named Red Mills, as all the surrounding buildings were painted red. The grist mill ceased operation in 1871, and after it was torn down by the New York City Water Board in 1881, the area became known as Mahopac Falls. Mary Philipse, born 1730, the daughter of Frederick Philipse, second Lord of the Philipse Manor on the Hudson, inherited the lande known as the "long lot" which included the Red Mills. Mary Philipse married Major Roger Morris, in 1758, and they built a log house at the Red Mills, in addition to their New York city mansion at West 169th Street. (Now known as the Jumel Mansion) It is said that Mary occupied the loge house when she visited her tenants semiannually to collect rents until the Revolution. The mill was built by Roger Morris and his brother-in-law Colonel Beverly Robinson. the mill became very prosperous and the Red Mills area was teh center of business at the time. With the close of the war came the Act of Attainder, by which the vast estate of Roger and Mary Morris was confiscated. Then in 1781, the land was sold by New York State for forfeiture and it changed owners many times through 1866. It was then purchased by Thomas J. McArthur & Empire Sewing Machine Company. In 1869, the Mahopac Manufacturing Compnay bough the property. During this period the water privilegeds were taken over by the New York City Board of Water Works, who paid rent.