Business & Tech
Hidden Gems: Kenyon's Grist Mill
Discover a Hidden Gem in South Kingstown that you may have driven by and never known it existed. Or maybe you have not visited this interesting spot in years. So take a little trip with Patch...we'll show you the way.
For those who missed out on the Summer Tour Weekend last weekend at Kenyon’s Grist Mill, visitors and locals alike will have another opportunity to see what keeps the traditional granite millstones grinding.
The Grist Mill has been producing corn meal since 1696, and visitors will be able to experience the production process as well as taste Rhode Island Johnny Cakes, Kenyon’s famous Clam Cakes and Chowder and other local delicacies at the Johnny Cake/Harvest Festival.
The festival will be held at the Grist Mill, located at 21 Glen Rock Road, West Kingston, R.I. on Oct. 22-23 and will feature live music, entertainment, animals, craft products for purchase and, of course, food and drink.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The Grist Mill has been in the Drumm family since 1971 and Paul Drumm III is proud of its history, reputation in the community and the continued production of Johnny Cakes.
“Growing up, people knew what a Johnny Cake was, now no one knows,” Drumm said.
Find out what's happening in Narragansett-South Kingstownfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
He has therefore made it part of his mission as well as that of the mill, to educate people on what the mill does and on the production of Johnny Cakes, as well as other products, through festivals, tours and the company’s presence at various other festivals throughout the state.
“Tours keep bringing in new people, which I really like,” Drumm said. “They bring new customers for us and helps us reach outside of the state.”
While those at the mill love visitors, they also still support local production. They have recently started grinding grain from Schartner Farms in Exeter. They have also participated in the nationally recognized Rhode Island Rye Project, focused on producing rye bread entirely in Rhode Island, from seed to flour to loaf.
While Kenyon’s Grist Mill has suffered some setbacks, notably damage from the flood in March 2010, production has resumed and is going strong, turning out 40-60 tons of cornmeal a year.
As long as the stones keep grinding, Drumm is confident people will continue to purchase local cornmeal and visit the mill to find out where this renowned Rhode Island product truly comes from.
