Mill Details

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill

Lehigh Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: 1808, restored 1998-2006
Township: Lynn Twp.
Watersource: Ontelaunee Creek

Official Website: www.oswaldsmill.com
Location / Directions

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill

Exit Pa 309 about 2 miles west of Pleasant Corners onto Pa 143. Go 1 mile through New Tripoli, turn left onto Sr 4032, go 0.8 miles to the mill near the intersection of Sr 4032 and Gun Club Road. The mill is actually on Gun Club Road at Ontelaunee Creek.

Verse for Thought
"Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let Your glory be above all the earth."
({Psalm 57:5 NKJV})
Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill
Cynthia Van Elk 2005-06

A house/mill combination built in 1808 measuring 40'X 60' and standing 3.5 stories in height. Samuel Kistler and his son Christian built this house/grist mill/saw mill on the road stretching from Lynnville on the south to the Blue Mountains to the north.

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill
Cynthia Van Elk 2005-06

The mill was sold to Sylvanus Oswald in 1891, he operated the mill and also conducted a store in part of the mill. This operation continued through 1914. Little is known about the mill since then, except that it had deteriorated and decayed almost to the point of no return, when it was purchased as a shell by Cynthia Van Elk and her husband.

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill
Cynthia Van Elk 2005-06

The second floor dining room in the mill showing the massive structura system needed to support the mill machinery, contain the substantial vibrations generated during operation, and further support stocks of wheat, other grain, and corn and also the amounts of finished product, flour,corn meal, etc.

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill
Cynthia Van Elk 2005-06

The deep side door of the mill gives an idea of how thick the walls are. Most mill walls were thicker at the lower stories, getting cintinually less thick and massive, the higher the floor. The almost empty shell of Oswalds Mill was restored over a 7-8 year process from 1998 through 2005.

Oswalds Mill / Kistlers Mill
Cynthia Van Elk 2005-06

This 4 arch stone bridge, reminiscent of a by-gone time, spans the Ontelaunee Creek on Gun Club Road near the mill. Be sure to click on the web address above to find out more about the mill, it's renovation, and the business the mill is a part of that enabled it's second lease on life.

 
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