Lerch Mill
Carbon Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Watersource: Borher Creek.
Lerch Mill
From the town of Little Gap, go east on Little Gap Road for 1.1 miles to 57 Road on the left. (The name of the road is 57 Road). Turn left and go 0.5 miles to the mill on the right.
No history known about the mill.
The front of the mill showing the protuding sack hoist/catshead.
On a 1875 township map, O. Lerch owned the land on the other side of the road.
The inlet pennstock culminating in the distribution box over the top of the overshot wheel.
A wooden framework next to the steel waterwheel that supports some major gearing and shafts. The main shaft runs up from below on the left.
A bypass penstock, now lying down upon the waterwheel, that used to serve as a release for excess water flow. An unusual way to control the speed of turning for the wheel.
The floor down below the gearing in the last photo. The wheel is on the right with a wooden flywheel/pulley on the left.
A better view of the flywheel/pulley arrangement with the water wheel just visible to the right.
The run of stone/stone set situated on the ground floor right over the steel rod that ran vertically on the left of the gearing the next floor down.
A large base rock included in the right rear corner of the foundation near the creek. The owner would like to get the mill fixed up to operating condition, although this might not happen simply because of the owners advanced age.
Permission was given for photos by a young man that rents the house and uses the mill for storage.
GPS: 40' 50.36N, 75' 29.51W