In 1747, Samuel Lightfoot, a surveyor and the maintainer of the field records for Charles Mason & Jeremiah Dixon as they surveyed the boundary between Pennsylvania and Maryland, built the grist mill on land aquired in 1725. He was the largest & wealthiest landowner in the township at that time. Charles' son William and grandson Samuel operated the mill into 1812.

Allen Simmers, an apprentice hired by Laird in 1880, bought the mill in 1886 and immediately began to upgrade the system. The wooden waterwheel was replaced by a steel wheel, manufactured in Hanover, Pa. by Fitz Water Wheel Co. The mill sold to Oliver E. Collins in 1919. With a name Like Oliver E. Collins, probably named for Oliver Evans-mill inovationist, he could hardly be anything else but a miller. He did, however, prove he could do other things. He operated the grist mill, built and operated a saw mill and cider mill, maintained a metal working shop, practiced barbering, and was the postmaster of Anselma, all to proivide for his family & enable the mill to thrive. The Collins family operated the mill until 1982. *Update: The mill as owned by Mr. Collins was still intact, but was not operating as of the early 1970s when I visited the mill with my father - Oliver Mosteller (owner of Pickering Mill, and grandson of Allen Simmers) If I recall, the wooden gearing was in place, but the water wheel itself was not operational. Art Mosteller 03/07/2011*

The mill passed to Lewis Rees & James Benson, both of Reading, Pa. Eight years later, the property was sold to the Sheneman family. Many of Oliver Evans' improvements in milling, 1795, were incorporated into the mill from 1820-1859. The power train was not altered during this time of inovation.

Elias Oberholtzer purchased the mill in 1859, turning it over to his son John. Unable to physically operate the mill because of an injury incurred while trying to free-up the frozen waterwheel in 1871, he Hired James Laird as miller. Oberholtzer built a store, Oberholtzer & Hartman, and sold grain, feeds, lumber, and coal. This business in the growing community of Cambria helped to bring a spur line of the Reading Railroad into the Pickering Valley. The Pickering Valley Railroad was formed to run for 13 miles between Phoenixville and Byers. This prosperity lasted until the 1920's, when the appearance of the automobile and truck began to spell doom for rail transpotation.

From 1982 to 1998, the mill was administered by The French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. In 1998, the mill came under the care of The Mill at Anselma Preservation & Educational Trust. See the web site for details of programs, hours & times of operation, and special events planned throughout the year. **Pictures and information courtesy of The Mill at Anselma Preservation & Educational Trust**