Neff's Mill-RUINS.
Lancaster Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Pequea Creek.
Neff's Mill-RUINS.
West of Strasburg on Miller St./Village Road, turn left on Penn Grant Road and go west to the mill/covered bridge just prior to reaching Bridge Road turnoff on the right after the bridge.
The 40"X 60' limestone mill was built by Wendel and Anne Bowman in 1797 along the Pequea Creek in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Penna. The mill is about 1 mile downstream on the Pequea Cr. from the Edisonville Mill.
The ornate datestone is located between the 2nd and 3rd upper windows, front to back, of five windows. The datestone bears a two-headed distlefink and a keystone lintel above. The names are in German; Vantil for Wendel and Boman for Bowman.
The mill was powered by 2 turbines receiving the Pequea's waters through the 150' headrace while discharging the spent water trough a 50' tailrace. The some times flour, grist and saw mill had a daily production of about 10 bbls. of flour. A Brackbill family owned and operated the mill from 1805 through the late 1860's. Henry Neff owed the mill and property from 1875 through 1900. From 1969 thru 1995, the mill was empty and the condition ranged from poor to ruins. It may be gone today. Several years ago, it was listed for sale with the stipulation the the buyer had to remove all vestiges of the mill.