Mill Details

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery

Chester Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: Early mill 1790, converted to grist mill 1853
Township: East Brandywine Twp.
Watersource: Culbertson Run.
Location / Directions

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery

Go from the Village of Lyndell on Pa 282, go west on Little Washington Road for one mile to Marshall Road. The mill property will be directly ahead.

Verse for Thought
"Nothing about me is hidden from you! I was secretly woven together deep in the earth below, but with your own eyes you saw my body being formed. Even before I was born, you had written in your book everything I would do."
({Psalm 139:15 & 16 CEV})
Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

The property began in 1739 when John Culberton II purchased 180 acres. As early as 1790, the Culbertons operated a saw mill and a fulling mill on this property known as Bridge Mill.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

The family ownership ended in 1821, when John Culberton IV sold the 162 acres and all the buildings. In 1842, after several short-time owners, the property was sold to Samuel Pancoast Harrison for $5,025.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery

John Culbertson mill, 1790.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

Harrison moved his family into the millhouse while he oversaw construction of the present mansion. Harrison sold the wool milling machinery in 1853, and reverted back to grist, clover and saw milling.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

Harrison's daughter, Ella, married William D. Marshall, who revamped the mill to include a creamery to make butter in the 1880s.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

The inlet culvert to the mill. The next picture below is the iron turbine installed following the fire at the outlet arch.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

The lineshaft coming from the turbine beyond the far wall. The creamery business prospered, and soon Marshall was shipping 80-pound wooden boxes of butter stamped "Yellow Rose Butter, Bridge Mill Creamery, Lyndell, Pa." to the markets in Philadelphia.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

The mill burned in 1911, and was immediately rebuilt with an iron turbine instead of the former overshot wheel & operated solely as a creamery until about 1920.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

In 1980, the property was sold by Warren Harrison Marshall, son of William. It was purchased in 1981 by Horace and Connie Stellwagon. Stellwagon completed a lot of restorations.

Culberton Mill / Bridge Fulling & Saw Mill / Bridge Mill Creamery
Robert T. Kinsey 01/03/2009

In 2009, the property is owned by another family, who is doing further restoration. GPS: 75' 45.31W, 40' 30.24N

 
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