Wilbur Mills Awnings

America's oldest sailmaker

Born to a family of sailmakers in Scotland, our founder, William J. Mills, settled in Greenport, NY on the North Fork of Long Island. The area, known for it’s impressive whaling and oyster fleets, was in need of a master sailmaker and thus William J. Mills & Company was born.

With the introduction of steam and gasoline powered engines at the turn of the 20th Century, William J Mills recognized that the days of a commercial fleet powered by sails were short lived. While maintaining its sailmaking roots with sail fabrication for small sailing yachts, the business diversified its services by fabricating awnings and other canvas products for homes and businesses as well as custom marine canvas products.

Today, we remain a family business that is owned and operated by the sixth generation of master sailmakers within the Mills family. Many of our old sail plans have been donated to the Mystic Seaport museum.