Mill Details

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill

Union Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: 1774
Township: Kelly Twp.
Watersource: Buffalo Creek.
Location / Directions

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill

From Lewisburg, take Pa 192 west about 3 miles to a junction with Hoffa Mill Rd. Turn right/north on Hoffa Mill Road and go about 0.5 miles to the mill on the left after crossing Buffalo Creek.

Verse for Thought
All for Jesus! all for Jesus! All my days and all my hours. "All For Jesus" by Mary D. James
({From the hymnal - Sing to the Lord})
Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

In 1774 a Mr. Bear built this flour mill. Bear sold the mill in 1790 to a Mr. Chamberlin. The Chamberlin Mill produced the "Chamberlin's Mills No. 1 Extra Superfine Flour".

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

In 1860 the Chamberlin family sold the mill to Cyrus Hoffa. The Hoffa mill sold the "Cyrus Hoffa Water Mills No. 196XXX Family Flour". The Hoffa family sold the mill to C. H. Witmer in 1910.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The headrace coming off Buffalo Creek as it approahes the mill. The first race overflow is the mechanism on the left. Used to let water from the headrace when the flow has too much volume.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The first overflow lokking from the creek up toward the mill headrace.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The second overflow of the millrace just before the headrace enter the barscreen and on into the mill forebay. The bar screen is designed to "screen out" the large pieces of debris from entering the mill.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The same area, only from the creek level below. The excess water reenters the creek, before entering the mill if the volume of flow is too high.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The belt driven by the tractor power take-off operates the main lineshaft inside the mill, and in turn, all the connected lineshafts and machinery. This method of power is used when the turbines are down for repair, adjustment, or the water flow is insufficient for turbine operation.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

Two roller mills and parts of two more on either side. The Unique Roller Mills were manufactured by the Robinson Mfg. Co. of Muncy, Pa., a town not very distant to the mill.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

Two corn hammermills used to grind corn for cracked corn for animal feeds. The corn would then be further ground if the product wanted was cornmeal. The funnel-shaped bin in the distant right is a feed mixer. Various raw materials, such as cracked corn, corn gluten, middlings, mineral supplements, etc. are dumped into a hopper below the funnel-bin. The materials are thoroughly mixed, then the feed is bagged from the funnel-bin.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

An Invincible Sack flour packer with a couple roller mills in the background.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Photo by Ted Hazen

An empty sack of H. & C. Grove's Mill's yellow roasted corn meal. They produce a "dark" roasted corn meal.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The packer filling a 25 pound paper sack with Buffalo Valley Roller Mills Silver Cloud Unbleached Fancy Pastry Flour manufactured by H & C Groves, 2905 Hoffa Mill Road, Lewisburg, Pa. 17837 * * * 570-524-2436.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

A storage room for feeds and supplements. Notice the hand hewn, massive support post and the feed chutes for filling sacks with feed. Also the hand trucks for wheeling feed sacks.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The back side of the mill. The wooden portion of the wall was often used where the mill stone horst frame was located. The wood would take up the vibration of the mill's waterwheel and the grindstones operation better than solid stone or brick.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

Twelve years later, a young man named Harry Grove went to work at the mill for the fee of $20 per month, including room and board. The work week was 12 hours a day, 6 days a week. Mr Grove was later promoted to flour salesman. Mr. Grove purchased the mill in 1948 after the death of Mr. Witmer. The Grove family has continued to operate the mill since then and continues to do so by water-powered turbines in 2009.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The double-arched stone bridge has either just been renovated or is a commpletely new bridge in keeping with a mill scenerio.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The mill farm's bank barn located across the road from the mill.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

The tractor in position to drive the attached belt to provide power for the mill, which it was this day as the turbines were down and awaiting repair parts. The house fan in front of the tractor helps to pull exhaust fumes away from the mill.

Groves Mill / Hoffa Mill
Robert T. Kinsey 11/11/2009

GPS: 76' 57.15W, 40' 58.30N

 
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