Mill Details

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill

Lancaster Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: Earlier Mill 1777, this mill 1857
Township: Upper Leacock Twp.
Watersource: Conestoga River.

Location / Directions

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill

One mile plus south of Pa 272/Oregon Pike at Oregon, Pa., on Bushong Road/Quarry Road/Pa 722 on the south side of the Conestoga River at the first right turn, Snake Hill Road.

Verse for Thought
"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His presence with singing."
({Psalm 100:1 & 2 NKJV})
Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill
JIm Miller 10/26/1992

An early hemp & sawmill of stone and frame, 30'X 40' was operated by Henry Sheibly from 1777 to 1797, and by Henry Sheibly and Christian Wenger from 1797 to 1799. From 1799 to 1803, Wenger was solely the owner.

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill
Jim Miller 06/23/2007

John Ruth bought the mill in 1803 and opwerated it until somtime after 1824. John Wenger, then owner, offered his mill for sale, and did sell his mill on the north side of Quarry Road in 1842 to Samuel Rank.

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill
Robert T. Kinsey fall 2004

This new mill was built in 1857 as a 60'X 80' limestone mill, 3.5 stories in height, with 5 doors up the front gable end. This mill was located on the south side of Quarry Road in 1857 by John & Elizabeth Bushong. The north side mill continued to do business until sometime between 1864 and 1875 as A. Shelby's Grist & Saw Mill, then it was torn down. The southside mill was John H. Bushong's Grist & Saw Mill from 1864 through 1875.

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill
Robert T. Kinsey fall 2004

In 1899, M. R. Bushong owned the only mill on Quarry Road at the Conestoga River. Willis Girvin purchased the mill in 1920, installed 2 turbines in place of the overshot wheel, made major repairs to the dam, and installed five Sprout-Walden Roller Mills. However, he came into financial straights as a result of the upgrades, and the bank took over. 1931-32 saw Elmer Zook operating the mill up until 1972, when Hurricane Agnes occurred. He had built storage silos, 100,000 bushels capacity, and installed a grain dryer.

Bushong's Mill / Zook's Flour Mill
Jim Miller 06/23/2007

In 1974, the mill was purchased by Roy Wagner, who routinely ground anywhere from 50 to 70 tons of flour/ week as part of the operations of Zook's Flour Mill, this being used for the pretzel industry of York, Lancaster, and Berks Counties. Roy's son Gerald took over the operation at Roy's death. The mill is still in operation as of 2006. p.s. The actual size of the 1857 mill is more like 60'X 68'.

 
Upload Pictures
I want to upload picture(s) at this time.