Mill Details

Site: Marion Roller Mills

Berks Co. | Pennsylvania | USA
Known Dates: Frame mill 1860, rebuilt brick pre 1876, burned 19
Township: Marion Twp.
Watersource: Tulpehocken Creek / Union Canal
Location / Directions

Site: Marion Roller Mills

Four miles west of Womelsdorf on US 422 just west of Stouchsburg, turn left on Church Road, at Main St. turn right, then turn left on Richland Road, cross the Union Canal and the Tulpehocken Creek, the mill site is on the left side.

Verse for Thought
Of wisdom-"I traverse the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice, that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries."
({Proverbs 8:20 & 21 NKJV})
Site:  Marion Roller Mills
Robert T. Kinsey 03/11/2006

The first mill on the site was a small clover mill built in 1801 by either Peter Linderman or Peter Scheetz. This mill was either replaced by a grist mill or converted to one by Adam Klopp. The photo above is a photograph of an older framed color photo in posession of the Marion Rod and Gun Club, which owns the mill property and has it's functions in the large barn on the former mill property. The smaller mill on the right is the older Royer/Burkholder Grist Mill which actually survived the newer mill.

Site:  Marion Roller Mills
Robert T. Kinsey 03/11/2006

The mill property was purchased from Eli Klopp by Daniel Royer who in 1860 built a larger frame mill in addition to the smaller mill, which was now relegated to serve as a storage facility.

Site:  Marion Roller Mills

Sometime before 1876, Augustus Burkholder bought the mill and he rebuilt the mill as 2.5 stories of brick on a limestone first story. This 40'X 60' mill was operated by the Burkholders, then sold to Jeremiah W. Royer, who ran it as the Marion Roller Mills, a mill with the latest equipment and fine water power, until 1931.

Site:  Marion Roller Mills
Unknown late 1800's

Royer's son, Milton ran the mill til 1961, then sold to Aaron Martin. It burned in 1965 and was not rebuilt. The smaller Royer-Burkholder Mill did not burn in the conflagration. How it was spared is beyond imagining; however, it was torn down in 2003 by the Rod & Gun Club owners because its lean had created a considerable safety hazard.

Site:  Marion Roller Mills

The mill pond was across Richland Road which ran right smack by the mills left side. Water from the Tulpehocken Creek was diverted from the creek via a millrace, 50' upstream, into the 10' deep mill pond, then the headrace was channeled under the road to the mill.

 
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