York Co. | Pennsylvania | USA | pre-1850
Picture: Robert T. Kinsey 01/21/2005
D. Miller's Grist & Saw Mill was probably built between 1766 and 1799. The earliest known owner is thought to have been Abraham Haldeman, who owned the mill and a steam distillery in the 1840's and 1850's at this site. The distillery's boiler exploded with fatalilties resulting. Haldeman sold to John Boyer soon after.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
Boyer sold to David Miller in March 1866. Miller ran the mill until his death early in the 1900's, and his hiers relayed the mill to the Mechanicsburg Water Co. The mill became a water filtration plant providing water for Mechanicsburg. The outlet arch for the mill is about halfway along the foundation in the picture. The tailrace presumably was ditched under the road to return to to Yellow Breeches Creek.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
The rear corner of the mill, looking under the large sycamore tree with the wingwall of the stone-arch bridge on the extreme right edge of the photo.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
The 10' high Miller dam was built in 1908 for the Mechanicsburg Gas & Water Company. The mill was still owned by the Mechanicsburg Water Co. in 1930; but today, the limestone ediface contains the modern filtration plant of the United Water Co.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
Boyer's Mill Bridge/Pumping Station Bridge, a four arch stone bridge, was built in 1859 and rebuilt in 1915. It carries Limekiln Road across the Yellow Breeches Creek. Check also this web page of the miller's house: www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/app/pj_display.cfm/262340
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
The limestone miller's house across the road was robably built c. 1800, so as mills were many time built before the house, the mill is probably just as old or older than the miller's house.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
The side of the mill facing upstream toward the dam. The current owners/work crew for the United Water Co. were on site doing some maintenance.
Picture: Jim Miller 07/13/2007
Not much is known of the milling operation, but there were about 60 mills, grist and saw mills along Yellow Breeches Creek at various time down through the years.
"God has been faithful in his love for Israel, and his saving power is seen everywhere on earth."
Psalm 98:3 CEV
Supply Update Information
Directions:
At 1080 Limekiln Rd in the northwest part of the Twp. From I-83, exit at West Limekiln Rd. Take Limekiln west for about 2.5 mi to the Yellow Breeches Creek. The mill sits on the left on the York County side of the creek. |
